1. What made you want to start a business venture?
I needed to make money to support my family.
2.How did the idea of your business come about?
I wanted to be a health professional and help people.
3. How important have good employees been to your success?
Not as much as you might think. The ideas have to come mostly from me. Still they are an asset.
...

1. What made you want to start a business venture?
I needed to make money to support my family.
2.How did the idea of your business come about?
I wanted to be a health professional and help people.
3. How important have good employees been to your success?
Not as much as you might think. The ideas have to come mostly from me. Still they are an asset.
4.What advice would you give high school students to become entrepreneurs?
I used to lecture to students often. Since at best 5% have what it takes, I advised them to be Eagle Scouts and learn chess and get an education.
5. What are the three top skills required to be a good entrepreneur?
Number one is energy, number two is business knowledge. number three is perseverance.
6. What have been some of your failures?
Not making changes quickly enough.
7. How many hours do you work on average?
More than 40. It just takes more that a standard work week.
8. How has becoming an entrepreneur affected your family life?
It doesn't do it any good. But in my case I overcame that with efficiency.
9. What motivates you?
Service motivates me. And being able to do the things I want to do.
10. How do you generate new ideas?
I brainstorm. I read. I attend lectures.
11. What is the best way to achieve long term success.
Think long term. This is important.
12. How did you go about getting funding for you business?
I used a mortgage company. It was essentially a bank.
13. How far are you willing to go to succeed?
It does not pay to do illegal things. But more than that having high standards contribute to success.

A better reward would reap better answers.
I have proven ideas that you could use....

A better reward would reap better answers.
I have proven ideas that you could use.1. What made you want to start a business venture?
Everyone would like to "work from home" or "be their own boss". After working for many large corporations for many years; I decided that I would never become rich; only THEY would.
2.How did the idea of your business come about?
My business idea came about immediately after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Both my husband and I worked in NYC. My husband was an elevator constructor; and his company maintaned (fixed) the elevators in all of the WTC Buildings. Thankfully, he was able to survive the terrorist acts, and was not injured; but we both decided that we would not return to work in NYC. I went to work in NJ (where we live), and we started off with a small contracting business in our home town. It grew bigger and better as time went on. We continued onto whole house renovations, building houses from the ground up, and commercial work. I remained to stay involved in the day to day operations of the business; even though I had a full time job. I made phone calls, and did paperwork, estimates, and the like at nite.
3. How important have good employees been to your success?
Having good employees are the backbone of a business. They represent your business; your name, and add to your success. Most large corporations have a mission statement which includes their employees, and rewards them for making the firm successful. They are on your front line, and make the first impression to the public. Without them, the firm would be nothing. And with BAD employees (those who show up late, have a bad attitude, or just dont want to work), the end result would be.... customers will go SOMEWHERE ELSE. Let me go into detail: I run into my local convenience store for milk. Its crowded and hard to find a parking space; but its quicker that my local BIG chain grocery store. I get my milk, and the casher is yapping with a co-worker; totally ingnoring me. Will I go back? NO. I wont.
To Be Cont.

4. What advice would you give high school students to become entrepreneurs?
Get a job in the field that you are interested in. See if you like it; see if you have got what it takes. Find out more about the industry. I would never say "just jump into starting a business". Gain knowledge and secure a backround in the industry first. Ask questions, take notes. Dont be afraid to talk to people.
5. What are the three top skills required to be a good entrepreneur?
Honest - to do that right thing; Smarts - to know what to do when there is a problem, or who to ask when you DONT know what to do; Etiquitte - because without this, no matter how hard you work, you will not succeed.
6. What have been some of your failures?
Being afraid to say "NO". You want your customers to be happy, right? But, you must always be honest with them. I've made mistakes by saying "sure, I will do this or that"; when I knew that I would be loosing money by doing the job. I should have just said "No, Im sorry, I cant do that... (then turn the tables), BUT, we CAN do THIS (and turn it around to a win-win situation).
7. How many hours do you work on average?
Personally, I work more than 40 hours per week torward this business. I have a 4.5 year old daughter at home; so I teach and care for her during the day; and spend about 5 or 6 hours at nite on the computer; about 1-2 hours per day on the phone. Times this by 7 Days a week (yes, I said SEVEN); and Im up to an average of 50 hours a week. Yes, this is MY part time position in this job!
8. How has becoming an entrepreneur affected your family life?
We have reaped many rewards; we can make our own hours when we want (and can). But, we still have to remember that we are not just going to a 9 to 5 job; where, no matter what happens, we will be paid. It doesnt work that way. If we dont hustle, get the jobs, and do the work; no one will be there writing out a paycheck. It can sometimes become unnerving.
To be continued.

9. What motivates you?
Money, of course. But also what motivates me is seeing clients that we have done work for, who are happy. They recommend us to a friend or relative and we get more work. We always strive on giving the best service; answering phone calls; being able to go out to a job in case of an emergency, and this goes a long way!

10. How do you generate new ideas?
That is a very hard question. There are so many building contractors in the State of New Jersey; and quite frankly, they come a dime a dozen. Our firm is an upscale type firm, and we do specialized work. We spend a lot of time with our clients and make all attempts to brainstorm WITH them, so that they feel they are getting a custom job. No matter what it be... a new bathroom, a new kitchen....new windows, or a whole new second floor. Doesnt matter; we just want them to be happy and make them feel that THEY are a part of the project. I have found that many contractors go into a job estimate, and TELL people what they need, instead of LISTENING to what the client wants. Get your client involved with the project, and they are happy that they are part of it. They feel as if they personally helped "build" it.
11. What is the best way to achieve long term success.
Persistance, Providing the highest quality work that you can, Providing the BEST customer service, and Keeping ahead of your competition.
12. How did you go about getting funding for you business?
We downsized our home and used a lot of the proceeds to put into the business.
13. How far are you willing to go to succeed?
To the end of the Earth, but within reason. I am certainly not willing to do anything unethical or illegal, but I will do everything in my power to continue with success.

In closing:

Get knowledge, get a plan, get good employees who support you, and support THEM, work hard, and keep ahead of the competition.

Best of luck TO YOU! Hope things work!




14. How do you define success?

1. What made you want to start a business venture?

Business Venture keeps you out of rat race that's why. If you have acumen then there is no limit of earning potential compared to a job.


2.How did the idea of your business come about?
...

1. What made you want to start a business venture?

Business Venture keeps you out of rat race that's why. If you have acumen then there is no limit of earning potential compared to a job.


2.How did the idea of your business come about?
It is sort of an interest which motivated me to get into the business I have persued.


2. What do you look for in employees to promote your business?
Emploees should have interest in the field of my business beside his job, salary and vaccations.On top they must come out with unique ideas rather than follow setline of work assigned to them.


3. How important have good employees been to your success?
Good Employees have been the main source to the success of my business.Out of 4Ms in any organisation which are Manpower,Money,Material and Management , I found Manpower(Employees) as the most critical in the success of any business.


4. What advice would you give high school students to become entrepreneurs?

Start with loan with best business plan which interests you.There is no doubt you will not be successful.



5. What are the three top skills required to be a good entrepreneur?
3Hs which are Hard work, Honesty to clients and high ambition.


6. What have been some of your failures?
Have been over optimistic about sales figures and a little deviation made huge difference in profits.


7. How many hours do you work on average?
12 hoursout of which 8 hours is must in office with employees and rest 4 hours to plan for next day,week and past day week performance.


8. How has becoming an entrepreneur affected your family life?
It has boosted happiness with better income and more family time.


9. What motivates you?
Independence of thought and action.


10. How do you generate new ideas?
I look at my product, my competitor's products and then go to users and get their feedback how can more improvements be done. Then I ponder about new ideas to refine the products.


11. What is the best way to achieve long term success
Patience, hard work, best customer service,quality products and innovation in existing products is the only mantra to keep business competitive and successful in long run.



12. How did you go about getting funding for you business?

I evolved with a good business plan and then convinced the financiers about how could I achieve success with maximum return in minimum possible time. Also, I convinced them with my skill set and ability to perfom.



13. How far are you willing to go to succeed?
I am already successful and my aim is to expand in a gradual way to keep my business growing competing my rivals.