Üsküdar Üniversitesi Cüneyt Uğurluoğlu, Founder of Lemon Tree Restaurants in Canada, was the guest of the “Branded Courses Entrepreneurship Seminars-2” event organized by the Young Brains Academy Application and Research Center. Uğurluoğlu, stating that “The mind is like a parachute; it doesn’t work unless it’s open,” added, “If you choose the difficult, you live comfortably; if you choose comfort, you live hard. Choose the difficult and don't have free time; if you have free time, may God help you.”
The seminar on “Entrepreneurship Motivations” was coordinated by Dr. Nebiye Yaşar, Director of the Young Brains Academy Application and Research Center, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinçer Atlı, Faculty Member of the Department of Advertising, Faculty of Communication.
The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless it's open.
Speaking about his entrepreneurship journey, Uğurluoğlu said: “Let's not confine the spirit of entrepreneurship to something grand. Because the entrepreneurial spirit is not created; it arises from necessity. In other words, there was a need, so I became an entrepreneur. Because I was raised as a child who made firm decisions, kept my word, and pursued my responsibilities. I grew up in a family that valued ethical moral values. That’s why I got married early. My first entrepreneurial compulsion was out of necessity. In later stages, I gained experience. I always say, ‘The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless it's open.’ You can open the parachute out of necessity or according to your desire. Because you will crash if you don't open it. There is no alternative. That's why I primarily suggest children evaluate words. For example, in literature, science is a noun. But for me, science is a verb. Because is the scope within the verb important, or the value it defines? But for me, science is a verb. It's about how you look at something. You need to question. If you don't question, it means you're not opening your parachute.”
The more knowledge, the more income
Uğurluoğlu, addressing the financial aspect of entrepreneurship, said: “The only thing not needed for starting in business is money. Let's not talk about trade; let's talk about entrepreneurship, whatever it may be. Let them analyze when money entered our lives throughout the process from the first humans until today. A money-income balance system is being attempted to be established, which they will achieve with their internal training and their own brain scales. The more knowledge, the more income. Note, I'm not even saying money. I can prove that money is not needed. The only thing primarily needed for an endeavor is to desire it. Desire is 90% of success. The other 10% is having that quality within you. All people are born as managers. All people are born as CEOs, as leaders. The education they receive dulls them. Many of my teachers have contributed greatly to me reaching this point. Many of them also posed significant obstacles to me getting to a better place. Your abilities become dulled by some ideas. The excessive loading of theoretical knowledge and the excessive deification of theoretical knowledge dull commercial abilities.”
The most important things in entrepreneurship are believing in yourself and being able to sell yourself
Uğurluoğlu, touching on the topic of ethics, stated: “My first venture was one that started out of necessity. Therefore, I had to knock on many doors. I was forced to, but I did it with pleasure. The most important things in entrepreneurship are believing in yourself and being able to sell yourself. ‘Selling’ here means making your ideas understandable to others. Can you sell your ideas? That's important. Your ideas need to be convincing. If you don't even believe in your own ideas, you can't convince anyone else. For instance, many holding companies have gone bankrupt because their CEO’s was not ethical. That's why it is necessary to be ethical, work by respecting moral values, and make an effort. In entrepreneurship, one must be white and transparent. Everything must be done under white light. Cleanliness must be visible. If you desire it, there is no ambition, hatred, or resentment. You need to be pristine. Transparency and cleanliness are highly accepted alongside the values in your entrepreneurship.”
If you choose the difficult, you live comfortably; if you choose comfort, you live hard…
Uğurluoğlu, offering advice to students, said: “Whatever they want, they should go and knock on doors. Say ‘I want this, and I don't even want money,’ then go in, but desire it. Choose the difficult and don't have free time. If you have free time, may God help you. Don't forget, if you choose the difficult, you will live comfortably; if you choose comfort, you will live hard.”