‘Fear of failure’ motivates McCabe
BUSINESSMAN Kevin McCabe has described fear of failure as one of his major motivations.
The founder of Scarborough Group International spoke about his roots, his success in businesses and his time as chairman of Sheffield United during an ‘In Conversation With…’ event at Sheffield Hallam University.
He said: “Everyone makes mistakes and the fear of failure drives you on in business. I’m lucky that over the years I’ve had partnerships with many great people and made some great friends.
“Business can be exciting – it can be stress, strain and hassle, but it can be exciting. You’ve got to adapt to be successful in business, especially overseas. Don’t always believe you know what’s right, but learn from your partners.”
Mr McCabe stood down as Sheffield United chairman in November having held the role since 2008.
He said: “I never set out to pursue an exciting career. My ethic was always just to drive myself forward. I’ve always enjoyed learning and I wanted to learn the business of football. I’ve taken a lot of risks and had a lot of able people working with me. If I’ve got an Achilles Heel it’s that I can’t resist an opportunity.”
Mr McCabe also offered some advice to business studies students in the audience. “An entrepreneur is a leader, not an executive. You have to work with executives, but you’re different, and it can get lonely. And you’ve got to have humour – be a serious businessperson but never be a serious person,” he said.
