Very Short Interview No. 1

I actually came to know Stuart over the internet on a business/entrepreneurship forum and he has been a source of advice for my own entrepreneurial pursuits. I would consider Stuart an entrepreneur as, in lieu of a free college education in his home of Scotland, he decided to work in a local supermarket store which ultimately taught him that he did not want to work for anyone ever again. With this vision in his head, he pursued an IT degree and, instead of pursuing internships like his peers, convinced his university to allow him to being his own IT Support business. After school, he went from helping end-users with their IT problems to building a business that provides support to multiple businesses in his city while employing ten employees.

1. What has helped you most (personal talents/skills, network of peers, mentors, etc.) in your entrepreneurial journey?

There's too much to pin down on one thing only, but working at the supermarket has given me the drive to not want to be in that position ever again. The politics in a supermarket at lower management level are horrendous, immature, and frankly pathetic, and I did not want to be a part of clamoring for someone else’s approval, regardless the industry.

2. What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?

That's hard to say as there's so much to learn. But I'd be looking at some sort of management course. It's easy to run a business as a one-man-band, but bringing staff on board is a challenge. Knowing how to manage them is very important.

3. What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur?

We don't get taught much about how business finance works, or how tax is calculated, or in fact anything related to that side of a business.

My Reflection:

Despite Stuart living in a different part of the world, it is a good reminder that entrepreneurship is a global language. His decision to pursue his own path is very admirable and shows that geography is not a barrier to personal success - it is all in your own decisions you take. I can relate to Stuart's advice with the technical aspects of running a business and that it takes a different kind of education to learn how to manage others and navigate tax laws. The entrepreneurial mindset is often one without limits, but sometimes this lack of limitations can lead an entrepreneur to cannibalize themselves (and their business) when they do not build a process for others to follow. It is easy to rely upon yourself, but harder to rely upon others, so his suggestions to learn proper management is definitely something to consider as I finish up my degree. Taxes are another consideration, and something I will need to learn how to manage when I eventually start my own company. Although usually outsourced to an accountant, it will still be beneficial to have at least a partial understanding of taxes and finance.