If you have never heard of Stephen A. Schwarzman, take a few minutes and be inspired by this. Recently Stephen was named as the fifty-third most wealthy person in the country put together by Forbes Magazine, nevertheless it’s his extraordinary achievements in the world of business in addition to his donations to education and the arts that make his story interesting. This goes to show that the keys to attaining success in life are devoted work plus focused persistence. Stephen A. Schwarzman and his business partner Peter Peterson founded the private-equity and financial advisory firm Blackstone Group in the eighties. At this point in time the Blackstone Group is known world-wide with holdings as variegated as Nalco and Legoland. Stephen grew up in the state of Pennslyvania. Then he went on to graduate from Yale University in 1969. He undertook a master’s degree in business at the famous Harvard Business school near Boston, Massachusetts. After finishing his MBA, Stephen started his job in investment banking. Steve was assigned the job title of managing director at the very precocious age of only thirty-one.

Not only does Stephen offer his time to a wide range of non-profit organizations, but he has also volunteered as a non-faculty professor at Yale. To further illustrate his wide spectrum of activities, he is Chairman to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, he declared with pride in the spring of 2008 that he was donating $100 million to the New York Public Library to help in funding their expansion. They also called their new extension the “Stephen A. Schwarzman Building”.

It’s not surprising that Stephen Schwarzman has become part of the United States’ elite — As one of Times Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the planet, Stephen is now widely followed by the media and influencing economic growth globally. His swift rise in the financial sector is surely spectacular, and his willingness to donate to the community as exemplified by his large contributions to the liberal arts and education sets a precedent for those who see him as a role model.

When you consider all his wisdom, experience, and dedication, it appears as if there isn’t anything he can’t conquer. To summarize, Stephen has grasped each opportunity offered to him, but he has at the same time made the best use of his wealth and influence to give his best to better the lives of his fellow Americans.