“You Can't Be Good at Anything Unless You're Willing to Be Bad”

Global Courant
When you hear the name Ryan Reynolds, you might first think of the witty, irreverent actor who brought characters like Deadpool to life. But Reynolds is much more than an A-list celebrity; he is an entrepreneur whose business ventures have sold for a total of more than $2 billion.

How did this versatile actor go from Hollywood sets to the boardrooms of major companies? The answer lies in his unique view on entrepreneurship, creativity and leadership.

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Reynolds has donned many hats. Are 25% majority interest in the young Mint Mobile led to a significant windfall when T-Mobile acquired the startup $1.35 billion after just four years. Between 2017 and 2020, Mint Mobile’s revenue increased nearly 50,000%, with many subscribers signing up, according to Reynolds. Fortune.

This wasn’t his first high-profile business venture. In 2020, he sold his Aviation American Gin brand to Diageo for $600 million after acquiring a company. ownership interest in 2018.

What’s shocking is Reynolds’ comfort level in navigating unfamiliar territory. “Does he know what he’s doing? Not really! And he’s not afraid to admit it,” he says said in an interview with Entrepreneur. “You can’t be good at anything unless you’re willing to be bad.”

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This statement summarizes his approach to risk taking. He understands that mastering any skill – whether acting or entrepreneurship – requires a willingness to make mistakes. This willingness to “be bad at something” before becoming proficient at it is an invaluable leadership trait, according to Reynolds.

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He also does not see problems as obstacles, but as opportunities for creative solutions. Challenges “really inspire ideas and ways to create,” he said. This ethos of turning obstacles into stepping stones is evident in his venture Maximum Effort, an advertising agency known for producing viral ads for brands such as Match, Mint Mobile and Aviation Gin.

The advertising success is even more surprising when you consider how much Ryan has ever done hated marketingand regards it only as an obligation. His views changed dramatically as he worked for ten years to make ‘Deadpool’ a reality, against the skepticism of Hollywood. His experience on “Deadpool” reinforced another core belief: limitations can inspire creativity.

“Every time the studio took money from our budget, we replaced the set piece we lost with character,” Reynolds said.

This focus on character over spectacle helped “Deadpool” become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, affirming Reynolds’ belief that limited resources can drive innovation.

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This article Ryan Reynolds Sells Two Companies for Nearly $2 Billion in Less Than Four Years and Says ‘You Can’t Be Good at Anything Unless You’re Willing to Be Bad’: A Lesson in Risk-Taking for Everyone originally appeared on Benzinga.com