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Student Insights for Entrepreneur Interviews

Entrepreneur insights and perceptions related to their businesses were obtained through interviews conducted by students. Student insights and reflections regarding the interview process are shown on this page.

Simply scroll down the page to view. They are shown with the most recent reflections appearing first.


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Records 671 to 680 of 1253
I found this project to be very interesting, considering I know absolutely nothing about cars in general, let alone mechanics. The owner of this business was my brother and because of my disgust for grease I never bothered to ask him anything about his business. I got to know another side of him, the professional side. Seeing the way he ran his business and all the decisions he had to make and he carried himself around his customers and vendors I discovered a new found respect for him for it seemed like a long and stressful day.
What I really found is the advice he gave me about making sure that I enjoy the type of business I get in to. Making money isn't much if you're not happy in what you're doing. I would hate to put all my time and effort into something that makes me miserable. Also, seeing what my brother has to deal with on a daily basis gave me a new understanding on what it really takes to run a business and the dedication and sacrifice that's involved, it's not all rainbows and butterflies. I am going to think very deeply on what type of business I want to venture in an do sufficient research to ensure my success.
Date Submitted: 2013-11-17 13:28:28
I have to say that just being able to sit down and get into the mind of a successful entrepreneur was the most meaningful part of this project. Especially since this entrepreneur has run the longest standing retail institution in the industry. Building a connection with this gentleman was wonderful, and I hope that he will continue to be someone I can look to as a mentor. Also, having the interview recorded leaves me with something that I can continue to reference and gain more knowledge from in the future.

The most insightful concept that I think I've received is the importance of diversification. I've come to realize that living in Southern California all of my life has shielded me from the true extend of the impact that winter has on the rest of the nation. I did not realize how magnified our small drop off in the colder months would be magnified in places that face real weather. This has really made me think about what else I can offer in the slower season, as well as alternative forms of income to help get me through the tougher times. I've also looked into the entrepreneur's Amazon and eBay profiles, and this has given me a better idea of what the national market is looking for. Seeing what the entrepreneur has listed and seeing what he has sold has also been a great insight into the larger marketplace.

Secondly, through this conversation, I've realized how delicate it can be dealing with competitors that are already established in the industry. It would seem that I may have to tread cautiously as I enter the market to ensure that I don't make enemies. Especially if it means that stepping on the wrong toes, consciously or not, can put my business into jeopardy.

And lastly, having some of the ideas that I've had in mind, regarding good customer service and attaching my shop to a course, reinforced was great. It definitely has boosted my confidence that I am on the right track. I believe that, if I focus on the aspects that are new revelations to me, while keeping my original ideas in mind, I think I may have a good chance at making it.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-17 16:46:51
That I learn how to start my own business and what tactics to learn how to start one. That there are many parts to a business and one needs to learn all of these parts. It takes money to make money. You have to work hard and get to trust people to have a well functional business. You need to learn many tactics of business goals and personal financial planning and business planning. You need to network and keep up with social media and keep up with new technologies and keep some old, and keep it balanced. You need to have a great staff to thrive in your business. You also need to know what you are doing and always keep learning new things. Try to find people that want the same things that you want out of life and that have the knowledge. People that share the same interests as you do. Talk to mentors and coaches that have been in the business for many years. Make new contacts and keep in touch with old ones. Get client referrals to fuel your business. By doing all of these tactics and keeping up and trusting the people that I work with will keep my business open for a long time.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-18 18:16:28
What was most meaningful to me about this project was being able to see firsthand what it takes to start and run your own business. I wanted to interveiw an entrepreneur that is in the field I one day want to be in as well. Being able to interview someone who is living out their dream at such a young age inspired me that I am just as capable of going after my dream. Being young shouldn't be a road block but a motivator to pursue your dream even harder. The project motivated me to get up and actually go after my ultimate goal and make it a reality.
I cannot emphasize enough just how much the project motivated me. The interview taught me the ins and outs of starting your own business. The project showed me that starting your own business can, of course, bring challenges but can also bring great joys and accomplishments.
Being able to connect with an entrepreneur my own age was a mind blowing experience. Being 21, most are thinking of Vegas, partying and enjoying being young; it was different to be able to be professional and really get down to business. It also helped that we are both into the same field of business.
I am very appreciative of this project. It has brought out a drive I didn't know I could have for this field and owning a business.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-19 20:26:26
The most meaningful part about this project was hearing about the dedication, the trial and error and persistence it took to get this business started. There were many hours of talking to friends about getting the word out “that there’s a new vet in town”. Setting up the design and selecting the wording for the advertising that would go out in the form of fliers and magazines took a lot of thought. Also setting up workshops and seminars as sort of a meet and greet to introduce one’s self to the public. I learned in this business that word of mouth is the best and quickest way to get a good clientele going. Being able to know how to talk to the right people or networking is an important tool as it will put you in contact with the right people. I also learned that it takes hard work and dedication to be able to go out on my own and start a business. And sometimes no matter how hard you prepare the outcome may not be what you were hoping for.
The thing is not to give up, be persistent and stick to your goals. Careful planning and having the support of family and friends will help greatly, because they might be able to put you in touch with people that can help you achieve your dream.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-21 01:00:47
This project was meaningful to me because it allowed me the opportunity to receive insight from a business owner and what goes on behind the scenes of their business, which is information they normally would not share with others. It also brought me back down to earth when thinking opening a business is not that hard, but in reality there is more to a business then what the average customer sees on a daily business. Business owners are good at camouflaging their emotions and problems of what is really going on inside their business. The financial aspect of the business as I found out more about in this interview and thought about it and realized that it is not my specialty. I would be best in a business with providing customer service or different marketing techniques because I can easily think outside of the box. The part of this project I really enjoyed was that I could actually talk openly and ask different questions without being shut down and allowed more insight to rethink seriously if I would like to open my florist shop one day.

I really enjoyed learning what the ins and outs of business were. She helped me most when she answered question number four, when she was asked what subjects she would go back and study. Her answers being marketing, public speaking, and accounting made me think if I am serious about opening a business I may want to look into those courses so I learn from her mistakes and better myself for the future. This project was an easy and an enjoyable interview experience, that lead to useful information that I will be using in the future and maybe to help other entrepreneurs I may come to meet in the future. And I will put to use the advice she gave me in question number eight which was advice you could give to the entrepreneur as her answers were keep an open mind, be flexible, and stay positive! This response meant a lot to me and I will apply them in my everyday life as I continue on my journey of learning new things every day.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-21 12:25:46
This was a great project. I really enjoyed talking to an actual business owner from his perspective about his own business to get the first person insight on some of the issues in running a business. Although my first two choices both seemed uninterested in meeting with me, they agreed and both chose dates and times for the interview to far away after the project was due. (they seemed to not want to really meet and chose meeting dates to far away and blamed it on being to busy) There were very many meaningful topics and issues we discussed that I will definitely make sure I remember when I start my own business.
I think the most meaningful topic we discussed was becoming financially literate. The business owner explained its not always how much you make to be successful, but how you manage and control your expenses and outgoing money. They explained if you start making more money; don’t immediately change your lifestyle to adapt to your new income. Especially in running your own business your profits can fluctuate dramatically for year to year and even month to month. Of course it changes depending on what field you’re in, but you always want to try and save whatever and whenever you can. If you can get away buying something cheaper and it won’t affect you negatively or you can hold off purchasing something new or even going without it, always try your best to make the sacrifice. After years of following that rule it will pay off. Another thing he stressed was to not have debt. If you don’t have any debt holding you down then the more financially free you are. Also try and have a savings the adds up to more then 6 months of your monthly expenses. This way in case there were ever any emergencies you will have a nice little cushion to fall back on for at least half a year.
I think this interview gave me a good insight on what things to focus on when starting my own business. I also noticed in this interview and in all other kind of information sources that how you manage your money is the main key to becoming successful. If you are passionate, work hard and create a good product or service then you will succeed, and how far you succeed depends on how well you manage you finances.

Date Submitted: 2014-04-21 12:50:14
The Small Business Management Interview Assignment helped me see how important it is to create a business plan and doing all the research that needs to be done before ever starting a business. Business owners who are now while informed and unaware of the current economic situation can become extremely stressed out trying to figure out how they are going to make ends meet unless there don’t have it together. Having a smart business plan written down so you know what your goals are and developing a creative approach for running your business is key. Taking some business class before you start would be a very great Idea and doing research also is another important factor. Even Family own business can create a lot of stress although your working with people u care about and that support you. This was a eye opener for me and it really makes you think about all the things that can happen. I am thankful that I am learning all that I can do now because it can be really bad going into a business blind to the knowledge of the current economic structure.

Date Submitted: 2014-04-21 13:56:49
The most meaningful aspect of the project was the ability to talk to a small business owner and their train of thought. We talked about the need to be passionate about what the product that the business is going to produce. I agreed that I have to be passionate about what I am selling otherwise why would anyone else want to buy it. When we are excited about the product then the other aspects of the business will line itself in our favor. The startup of every business is going to be a challenge but we have to preserve to get to the bigger and better opportunities. I believe that is the nature of most things in live, where I have to start from the bottom up to gain experience and skills to be my own boss/owner. I was intrigued that the owner was keeping up with the changing technology to a better business owner.
The other meaningful facet of the project was the networking that was created by the interview and how management was a key aspect of a small business. I got in touch with the interviewee through asking a family that directed me to their mentor. The owner was helpful throughout the interview process and we have been keeping in touch through email. When an article of interest that he believes, I would get an email of the link to read. We would have discussion of the article. I learned about different management skills that the owner believes is key to an successful business. I concurred with the owner because I have used some of those components in my management position. I had to alter the way the concepts applied to my line of work but that is part of different business fields.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-21 15:39:00
The most meaningful part of this project was learning about all the troubles in a business and how you have to push through them to remain successful. For instance the high tax issues, there is no way to avoid them you just need to bump up the way you run your business to get more customers. I have always known customer service is a must in a company. As I heard [Name Removed] talk about how some employees have effected clients made me realize that is a huge must and no exception should be made, because you can lose a customer from one unhappy employee. Being able to have overall great employees really helps your business.
Learning how [Name Removed]’s Father started the business was a great thoughtful plan. It’s very cool how [Name Removed] grew up in the business and learned the way things were done at a young age. It gave him much knowledge to be successful when it got passed down to him years later. The advice [Name Removed] gave to me really made me think, that if you find something you love to do you will be so happy every day you work that you won’t even realize you are working. That to me means so much because when I open a business I know I will find something I love and be happy to go to work every day.
Date Submitted: 2014-04-22 04:46:06
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