Interview: Start a Business
Q1: Why did you decide to organize business in the region?
The decision to start a business should be associated with the desire to create a new idea that was not practiced before, or to improve previous achievements. For instance, when it comes to food production, attention should be given to quality and consumer demand. When you decide to run a restaurant, philosophy and people must be taken into consideration. In any business, people are pivotal in making decisions. Therefore, I decided to start a business because I wanted to understand the secret of customer demand.
Q2: What was your initial motivation?
Like any entrepreneur, I was first motivated by financial rewards. However, deeper considerations persuaded me that business was also a trigger for self-motivation and professional determination. It is also a calling for your abilities and experience. Therefore, my motivation was both financial and personal.
Q3: What did you feel and what problems you encountered while starting the business?
First of all, I have to develop a strong vision and statement, which is difficult because I had to consult many agencies, friends, relatives, and experts in the field. I need to conduct surveys and research studies before deciding that I can cope with this new challenge in my life. I believe that careful planning and a bit of luck are the key determinants in carrying out business successfully.
Q4: What were the major challenges of starting a new business?
People, people, and, once again, people. They should stand at the core of any entrepreneurship because they are considered the leverages of promoting business ideas and improving performance. As soon as business managers understand that, they will never be involved in the rigorous competition. They will be above it.
Q5: How do you feel about the fact that there are certain obstacles, or your company is on the way to success?
When I started focusing on customer demand, I was also keeping abreast of other businesses striving to succeed in similar fields. This was the moment I felt that we were on the way to success. If entrepreneurs try their luck in this sphere, they will also understand that this customer segment is underexplored and there is a great opportunity to create new demand.
Q6: Do you think that a 5-year period of running a business is enough for making conclusions?
Definitely! I am sure that a 5-year period is enough time for making conclusions, evaluating results, and introducing new strategic plans.
Q 7: How do you overcome challenges and how do you deal with your employees?
I believe that a good manager should pay specific attention to human resource management because people constitute a valuable asset of the company which gives profits in the form of new knowledge and experience.
Q8: What is the most important in managing people?
Efficient leadership qualities, cultural sensitivity, and organizational culture are three major pillars of making people stay with you. When you start a business, people should realize what they do and why they do it. The task of the leader is to keep employees motivated and willing to work. Greater emphasis made on people, not on revenues, will allow the company to remain successful for a long period of time.
Q9: Do you think organizational culture is important to business success?
Organizational culture is as important to business as it is important for a human to sleep 7-8 hours a day. Culture makes everything work, it is like oxygen which ignites the power and makes companies more successful. So, yes, I believe that is tremendously important for the business. It inspires and motivates people and provides them with the stimuli to bring results.
Q10: What measures do you implement to improve the quality of goods and services?
Strong vision and ideology, close partnerships and constant analysis of the external environment are significant for sustaining a competitive edge.
