About Paul Gravette
Paul Gravette on stage at a Dallas, Texas convention in 2012.
Who is Paul?
Over the last 20+ years, Paul Gravette has redefined entrepreneurship, successfully transforming half a dozen small startups into lucrative, thriving businesses. He is considered a business thought leader and has a proven track record for delivering exponential growth to emerging Internet-centric startups through brand building, innovative marketing initiatives, third-party management systems’ integration, and sustainable distribution programs.
How he transformed himself into a successful entrepreneur is a story that has provided lessons and inspiration to his millions of followers.
At 26, Paul realized he had accomplished the biggest written dream of his life: He had become a self-made millionaire. He accomplished this by purchasing blocks of time for cellphones, dividing them up, and selling them to consumers as pre-paid minutes. Says Paul, “It was at the very beginning of the Pre-Paid Cellular Telecommunications Services era. Back then, people, especially salespeople, needed a way to pay for calls. I filled that need.”
The success of that first effort convinced him to become a serial entrepreneur. He found investments by constantly reviewing business opportunities.
“I was 21 when I told myself I would be successful, but I also knew I’d have to put in the effort to make it happen. I would read every book on success that I could get my hands on and learned how to divide my time across the many tasks I wanted to accomplish each day, thereby taking control over my future.”
Inspired – And an Inspiration
Paul Gravette in the late ‘90s.
Paul has been influenced by other successful people, but none more so than Napoleon Hill. “The greatest pivotal moment in my early years as a young professional was when I was introduced to the book, Think and Grow Rich,” says Paul. “Mr. Hill’s book taught me so much. Also, I would constantly visualize myself as an equal in a room with the most successful people that I knew of. This exercise inspired me immensely, as I told myself that one day I would be as successful as those people in my imaginary room.”
While still practicing entrepreneurship and looking for investment opportunities, Paul also shares his expertise and experience with his followers. From being inspired he is now an inspiration to millions of people worldwide. His free blogs are an invaluable resource for those who desire to learn about entrepreneurship, the latest in technology, culture, and success.
“Giving back by helping those with the same goals and drive I have is important to me. It’s the least I can do.”
Paul Gravette with world-renowned entrepreneur, public speaker, and author, Brian Tracy.
A Proven Investment Philosophy
Paul’s success relies on doing his due diligence. His investment decisions depend on who he is investing in. “A track record is important, true, but not as important as the originality of the idea/product. Am I investing in people who are following a fad, or creating a dynamics-changing, industry-disrupting paradigm? Finding these people and products and evaluating their potential has been the key factor in my successes throughout my career as an entrepreneur.”
In addition to his discerning eye for innovation and potential, Paul is actively associated with a multitude of prestigious financial organizations and investment entities. His associations span across various sectors, reflecting his diverse interests and broad investment strategy.
Major Financial Institutions:
PRIVATE EQUITY ENTITIES:
RELATED BUSINESSES:
The Gravette Family, 2022
A Family Man, Too!
Paul married his wife LeighAnn in Belle Meade, Tennessee on December 31, 2002 – New Year’s Eve. “We wanted to select a date that we thought would be fun to mark this special occasion in our lives,” he says. “As the ball dropped and a new year went off, balloons and confetti fell from the ceiling, all while our amazing 14-piece band played on. It was a magical time for us committing ourselves and our futures to each other.”
Paul and LeighAnn have three boys together and are also partners in business. LeighAnn has ownership in multiple ventures as a passive investor, but to Paul it’s their committed and supporting relationship that is the most meaningful to him.
But his world is one of high stakes and high pressure, so to relax Paul loves spending time with his kids and the family dogs. Golf is another pastime he enjoys, plus traveling and experiencing new places and great foods with LeighAnn.
As for hobbies, Paul has always had a passion for cars. “When I was young, my biggest motivator was that I wanted to be successful enough to drive the cars I loved. For me, it was a Mercedes-Benz. When I hit my first major milestone in business at 25, I purchased a convertible SL500 Mercedes.” Decades later he still loves cars and recently acquired his dream car – a rare 1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet with 12,000 miles, the lowest mileage of any vintage Cabriolet on record.
“I don’t think I’d have been as successful as I am were it not for my wife, LeighAnn.”
Philanthropy Is Part of His DNA
Paul says that even at an early age he found joy and fulfillment doing things for people. This carried over as he became an adult and an entrepreneur, giving him and LeighAnn the wherewithal to do so much more.
“Philanthropy is doing a good deed for others,” says Paul. “If you’re reading this, decide that you will do a kind deed for someone else. Give your time to someone, or to help an elderly person – it’s not about money or wealth. We are all philanthropists when we show an act of kindness and help others.”
Over the years, he and LeighAnn have increased their commitments in many areas, public and private. These include generous support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Currey Ingram Academy, Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club, Martha O’Bryan Center, Cul2Vate, and many others.
