Very Short Interview, Part 2

For this exercise, I would like you to revisit that first conversation you had with an entrepreneur. In that initial interview, you asked an entrepreneur three questions. Now, revisit this interview and think about the questions you asked and the answers they provided you. From where you stand now, what is your impression of that initial interview?

My impression is that my ideas of what entrepreneurship entailed were a bit off.  I have a much better grasp of the concept and I think that going forward, the class and the chapter readings have provided a great foundation to see the other side of the business world.  I've been used to seeing the established, large enterprise/organization side of things and I think I really like the rush and excitement a venture could provide.  

Second, visit the entrepreneur again. Record the interview if possible. The three questions you ask this time are entirely up to you. Let your experiences in this course drive what questions you ask -- and that will be very different for each of you! 

1.  What are the major threats to your business?  

The main threats would be a downturn in business that could affect our bottom line.  We try to provide a great service and we go above and beyond to make sure we have repeat business and that these clients are happy and will spread the word for a great service experience.  

2.  What is the best part of being an entrepreneur?  

The best part is having the satisfaction of seeing a project I've nurtured grow and be successful.  When your work pays off and it's up to you to make sure it stays afloat it makes you work harder.  I also enjoy the liberty and freedom of being my own boss and this is a great perk.  You have to have the discipline to make sure work comes first in order for everything to work out but then you can take time to take care of personal items if need be.  

3.  What is the worst part of being an entrepreneur?  

I think the worst part would be the fear of failure as this is always a constant factor to take into consideration.  My family and my livelihood all depend on the business being successful and this is of course a strong motivator but at the same time the stress can be intense.  I try to balance that with exercise and spending time with my family.  

Third, after the interview, try to gather some sense of how far you have come in this class. In your post, discuss your comfort level in talking about entrepreneurship in this interview now, compared to three months ago. Did the entrepreneur convey a sense that they thought you had progressed in your journey?


I had a conversation with Shawn and the consensus was that I had a better overall idea of what entrepreneurship is now than before.  I guess I was stuck on the stereotypes of what entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship meant and these were pretty hard to dispel and get rid of.  After the experiences and trials and tribulations of this class, I am much better prepared to discuss entrepreneurship and my take it on it will be much more accurate.