My reputation, difficult choices, doing the right thing and proper treatment of others has brought me clients, lifelong friends and success more than anything else.
William Nakulski is a successful entrepreneur from Chicago, IL who has started multiple companies from the ground up. At the young age of 16, William started his first successful website and business, GreatestSale.com. He continued to cultivate a strong background in computer science and gained years of experience working at a consulting engineering firm. In this position, he worked on a wide variety of facilities, including the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower), hotels, Argonne National labs, military facilities, aircraft hangars, schools, hospitals, and other government facilities.
Outside of work, William Nakulski has a passion for music, martial arts, and philanthropy. He challenged himself to start creating his own works early on. He has composed 50+ songs total, spanning nearly every genre. From tribal influences, to dance beats, to classical compositions, William enjoys incorporating different aspects of music to tell stories or simply entertain listeners through music.
As a child, William Nakulski first tested the waters by taking taekwondo classes. He later got involved in Shotokan karate, which quickly became his favorite martial arts style, and he ultimately received a black belt in it. Although he no longer actively practices, William continues to apply many of the theories and principles behind martial arts to his life in general. Bruce Lee’s philosophies, in particular, have inspired William to seek out a life of purpose, independence, and emphasis on both self-reflection and self-confidence. He believes that fitness can instill a sense of discipline and can contribute to a person’s overall well-being.
Passionate about giving back to his community and engaging in philanthropic efforts, William holds many charities dear to his heart. Some of these include Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Many of these diseases have touched his life personally and have motivated him to seek out ways to enable research (and hopefully cures) for them in particular. However, William, who has a long background in computer science and information technology, is fascinated in general by the endless opportunities that technology has to offer. Perhaps no channel is more promising than unearthing the causes and cures of biological diseases.
Now, as a business consultant, William privately consults with high profile clients around the world, helping them to properly invest and manage their assets to reach their goals and achieve success. He has at least ten current business partnerships and considers genuine connection and relationship-building as integral forces in professional success.
Where did the idea for Cash For Land come from?
I knew many people needed to unload property, and that paying property taxes on land with no income could be burdensome from experience. I decided to alleviate this burden by creating Cash For Land, which does just as its name suggests.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Every day is completely different. It is important to keep physically fit and healthy, so I think it’s key to begin the day with a workout. Whether it is running on a treadmill for a half hour or so, lifting weights, or going for a hike, physical exercise is a great way to boost your energy in the morning rather than just drinking coffee.
How do you bring ideas to life?
First with thought, then concentration and relentless commitment. You must be willing to focus and not be distracted from your goal. This is key to imposing your will upon reality. Once you’ve adopted the mindset of never stopping until your goal is achieved, you’ll be able to successfully push yourself in the right direction.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Leaps in technology allowing for treatment of diseases and ailments that were previously untreatable. It’s incredible how far we’ve come in terms of medicine, and the addition of technology has only furthered our accomplishments. I’m confident with the right amount of determination and innovation, we are close to finding cures for a number of diseases that were once thought of as incurable.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Persistence. I make sure that I am void of any distraction before delving into any activities involving business, then refuse to give up until that goal is achieved. It’s difficult to begin a task and not finish it for me. Luckily, I can apply this habit to all areas of my business life in order to succeed.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Focus on partners and relationships. Had I known that at a younger age, perhaps I would have achieved even more. But, I am not unhappy in the slightest. I’m very proud of what I have been able to achieve, but had I understood the true value of networking, gaining more partners and developing deeper relationships, there is a chance I may have learned more even earlier on.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
Adversity forges the best people, should they overcome it. Many people will aim to avoid adversity altogether. In my opinion, going through adverse situations is how you emerge stronger, and with a better understanding of the world around you. It can mold your character for the better.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Ongoing and continuous education. You should never stop learning. I firmly stand by the quote, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” There is nothing more valuable than knowledge, and to deny that would be denying success. One should always strive to learn about something they know nothing about, whether it pertains to his or her business or personal life.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Focusing on relationships, integrity, kindness and honesty. My reputation, difficult choices, doing the right thing and proper treatment of others has brought me clients, lifelong friends and success more than anything else. Displaying empathy and care in your work is crucial in order to form meaningful relationships, which, in turn, becomes loyalty.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Inability to raise the necessary capital to fund deals. It was overcome by forging partnerships. Though I have stated before that I am constantly persistent, in the early stages of my career, it would’ve been difficult to achieve what I did on my own. The value of partnerships in the business world is incomparable, and extremely beneficial in a variety of ways.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A recycling pickup service which pays out to customers and provides an online account and app to track details and balances.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Taking my wife to a nice dinner. The true feeling of happiness that came with it was from seeing how happy she was, and to celebrate past success. I credit much of my success to her and my sons, and I would happily spend more than $100 on any of them at any given time.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Online property management software that I created for the purpose of organization and tracking all company activity. It has made my job much easier, and I’m very happy to call it an invention of my own.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Napoleon Hill:” Think and grow rich”
At a first glance, people think it’s all about money. The true commodity in life is time, and when you have that shift in your thinking, everything changes. Things you may have prioritized in the past may seem frivolous now, and much more valuable aspects of your life begin to come to fruition.
What is your favorite quote?
“Greatness lies behind every conquered fear.” – William Nakulski
Key Learnings
- My reputation, difficult choices, doing the right thing and proper treatment of others has brought me clients, lifelong friends and success more than anything else.
- Ongoing and continuous education. You should never stop learning. I firmly stand by the quote, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
Connect:
William Nakulski on Linkedin:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.