What is the secret to make a startup work? Shaquille O’Neal has something to say about that. The NBA pro and analyst has built a portfolio as a multi-faceted businessman over decades. He’s a savvy entrepreneur with a knack for making things work. And over time he’s picked up lessons that helped him adapt. His own entrepreneurial journey began because of the reigning icon in this field. He’s a big admirer of Jeff Bezos who shaped Big Diesel the businessman.

Of course, many aspiring entrepreneurs want to be like Shaq. Lucky for them, he doesn’t keep his secret sauce closely guarded.

Shaq’s secret to startup success

Shaquille O’Neal is operating more businesses than we can count on our fingers at any given time. Most recently, he invested in Edsoma, an EdTech startup to promote literacy and communication habits in children. He was at TechCrunch Disrupt to talk about his business ventures.

A student from UC Berkeley caught up with Shaq at the event. Vanessa Kahkesh went on her tiptoes to ensure everyone could hear the 7’1″ giant’s answer to, “What is your best piece of advice for young entrepreneurs out there?”

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Big Diesel responded with unusual advice. “Hire people that are smarter than you to have conversations with. If you’re a know-it-all, your company’s not gonna work.” 

This is a policy Shaq lives by. He’s often proclaimed he has a knack for surrounding himself with the right kind of people. For instance, he was impressed by Edsoma CEO Kyle Walgren’s efforts to make education accessible with his app. With Big Chicken Shaq, which he started from scratch, he has a team of chefs in charge of his vision and experienced CEO, Josh Halpern.

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Decades after he was the first Reebok athlete to launch a signature shoe under the brand, Shaquille O’Neal returned to the company as the president of the basketball division. He’s got the ultimate sidekick in trendsetter extraordinaire, Allen Iverson as VP.

O’Neal is a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs. But he’d tout Jeff Bezos for these very principles that made him successful.

Shaquille O’Neal’s Amazon connection

When he was in the prime of his NBA career, Shaq went to a seminar by Jeff Bezos. The Amazon magnate and one of the richest persons in the world would tell entrepreneurs should invest in something that would change people’s lives. O’Neal has lived by the policy whenever he partners in a business venture.

As shaped by Bezos, O’Neal takes a business pitch seriously and won’t partner with people unless he believes in the purpose. “If someone came to me and said, ‘hey, give me a million dollars and I’ll turn it into 10 million in 2 months…’ I wouldn’t take it,” Shaq said.

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O’Neal’s advice is perfect for anyone who isn’t confident about running a business alone. What do you think about his suggestion?