ENT 4400 OU The Virtual Private Network a Connectivity Model Essay

For this assignment you are asked to get in touch with a successful entrepreneur. What qualifies as a “successful” entrepreneur? The person must have started at least one business that has had more than 5 employees at any time in its lifespan. And the business should have been considered “a success” at some point during the lifespan. Since success comes and goes quickly, the business can be non-existent at this point (sometimes “failures” deliver the best lessons learned).

Your task is to conduct an interview with the entrepreneur – by phone, email or best: in person. What can you offer in return: The result of the class survey regarding “Key Success Factors”. Please also include some general information about your interviewee and his venture(s).

IF YOU CAN’T ESTABLISH A CONNECTION WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR, YOU MAY RESEARCH THE WEB FOR SOME TAPED INTERVIEWS WITH SUCCESFUL ENTREPRENEURS (OR ARTICLES ABOUT THEM) TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. THIS MAY REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK SINCE NOT ALL QUESTIONS MAY BE COMING FROM ONE SOURCE. IN THIS CASE, MORE FAMOUS ENTREPRENEURS MAY YIIELD MORE INFORMATION.

You could consider the following questions:

• What is the driving force behind your entrepreneurial endeavors?
• What are the most important sources for the business idea – do you focus on research, intuition or interviews with potential customers?
• How have you or how would you select partners for your business?
• What has been the most surprising part about starting a business?
• If any, what would be the decision you most regretted regarding the venture? What decisions would you like to have reversed in hindsight?
• What sources of funding did you find? Where were you looking for these sources?