1851

&nbsp;For those of us who are on the younger side in our respective industries, it can feel like attaining measurable success is extremely far in the future.&nbsp;However, thanks to Fortune Magazine and its <a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">‘40 Under 40’</a> List, we are reminded that really, anything is possible. Each year, Fortune publishes a list of 40 individuals in the entrepreneurial space that it considers to be the most influential, disruptive, innovative and inspirational in the industry; and whom we can all learn a thing or two from.Here are five lessons we learned in entrepreneurship from the individuals in Fortune’s ‘40 Under 40’ List, who are disrupting the norm and excelling at a young age:1. Find a way to disrupt your industry.Consumers are continuously shying away from unhealthy and sugary beverages as they seek out healthier lifestyles. As a result, big beverage brands—most of which are carbonated soft drink brands—have had to rethink their strategies and launch products tailored to this new consumer shift.Bubly, a sparkling water brand of PepsiCo, is the perfect example of an established company finding a way to disrupt the industry. In less than a year, Bubly grew to more than $100 million in sales, quickly becoming one of the biggest players in the category. A lot of Bubly’s success is attributed to its Director of Marketing, 39-year-old <a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/marisa-bartning?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marisa Bartning</a>, who, along with a team of very talented individuals, launched a TV campaign during the Academy Awards and followed that with Super Bowl ads featuring Michael Bublé.&nbsp;2. The future is smart… and artificial.Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. As AI technology continues to evolve, experts are predicting that it will steadily become more present in consumers’ day-to-day lives.You know the infamous “Alexa” from Amazon? Well, meet Alison. <a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/alison-atwell/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alison Atwell, 31</a>, is the voice user interface (VUI) designer who is in charge of “training” Alexa. Alison works with companies to build Alexa-interfaced products, all starting with a foundation of sharing information and tailoring Alexa’s responses to company needs. Instead of just “creating magic words for Alexa to say,” Alison focuses on facilitating natural interactions between the technology and the human being interacting with it.&nbsp;3. Consumers care about sustainability and the environment.From paper straws to reusable water bottles and coffee cups—and now wool shoes— consumers are now upping the ante when it comes to caring about the environment and implementing sustainability into their everyday lives.&nbsp;Allbirds founders <a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/tim-brown-and-joey-zwillinger?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tim Brown, 38, and Joey Zwillinger, 38</a>, realized the consumer investment in sustainability and the environment and created a line of wool shoes. Allbirds’ emphasis on product construction by natural materials like merino wool and eucalyptus fiber has contributed to the staying power of the brand, which has grown from a purely online offering to brick-and-mortar locations based on its enormous success. The low-carbon-footprint brand certainly hit the mark with sustainable consumers as Allbirds has reached an estimated valuation of $1.4 billion.&nbsp;4. Fitness is no longer just a workout, it’s an experience.Gone are the days of heading to the gym and solitarily doing a series of sets on a rotation of machines or running on a treadmill for a set amount of time. Modern consumers crave an experience with their workout, one that’s going to motivate them to work hard but also one that they enjoy.&nbsp;That’s where Peloton comes in—the luxury exercise bike that allows the user to stream a continuous supply of high-energy fitness classes from the comfort of their own home. Peloton sells for more than $2,000 a bike and has recently <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/01/peloton-bike-ads-twitter-thread?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">capitvated the social media world, particularly on Twitter</a>. COO and co-founder <a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/tom-cortese?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tom Cortese, 39</a>, is involved with everything from product design to supply chain to customer satisfaction. Peloton has been able to achieve a valuation of almost $4 billion thanks to its ability to provide the boutique fitness experience in-home, complete with a tightly connected community of riders, coaches and a content stream that never seems to run dry.&nbsp;5. Esports leagues are the next big thing.Esports, a new form of sports competition through video games, has the potential to become the top-grossing major sports league in the world—the industry is now <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-videogames-outlook/global-esports-revenues-to-top-1-billion-in-2019-report-idUSKCN1Q11XY?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">valued at $1.1 billion</a> due to advertising, sponsorship and media rights revenue, and is projected to continue to rise in valuation in the years ahead.&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2019/johanna-faries/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list-2711918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johanna Faries, 37</a>, heads Activision Blizzard, a major Esports league built around the mega-popular first-person shooter game Call of Duty. Activision Blizzard is now valued at almost $1.4 billion. In a company press release, Activision contended that since the start of this year, “the game has generated more revenue than the Marvel Cinematic Universe in box office sales.” The company even has franchises set to open in 2020 in Atlanta, Dallas, New York City, Paris and Toronto.

5 Lessons in Entrepreneurship We Learned From The Young Ones on Fortune’s ‘40 Under 40’ List 

1851 Franchise

These innovative and disruptive individuals have found a way to break the mold in their respective industries, showing us that anything is possible.  

5-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-we-learned-from-the-young-ones-on-fortunes-40-under-40-list

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Kathy Turner: The Filta Franchisee Keeping LA's Kitchens Cooking (and Green)

kathy-turner-the-filta-franchisee-keeping-las-kitchens-cooking-and-green

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: 1851 Supplier Highlights

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: List of Franchise Suppliers

emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Coffee and Analytics: Franchising and AI — Future-Proofing Your Business in an Uncertain Economy

franchising-and-ai-economic-uncertainty

Coffee & Analytics: The Secret to Attracting Multi-Unit Franchisees

coffee-analytics-the-secret-to-attracting-multi-unit-franchisees

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

5 Lessons in Entrepreneurship We Learned From The Young Ones on Fortune’s ‘40 Under 40’ List

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS