Week 3- A Very Short Interview No. 1

About Donny Moreno:

The person that I interviewed is a close family friend, Donny Moreno. Donny owns his own wallpapering business down in Jupiter, Fl. Not only did he start his own business, but he also came up with his own wallpaper styles. One of his most popular products is a wallpaper that resembles a straw beach mat; it is very popular among the wealthy homeowners along the beach. One of his most notable clients is Tiger Woods.

1)      What should my expectations be in this entrepreneurship class?

      You should expect that after taking the course you will realize the work load associated with becoming an entrepreneur. By the end of the course you should be able to decide whether your personality fits with the traits that will be suited to become an entrepreneur or if you are better suited working for someone else.

2)      What does the word entrepreneur mean to you?

       Being an entrepreneur means that you have developed such passion for something that you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make your living at it. To be an entrepreneur you must be able to take risks and be flexible and willing to make changes to adjust your business if circumstances require a shift in your business model.   There will be highs and lows and it is critical that you can stick with it through the hard times.  You need to be motivated and willing to put in the time and effort it takes; you cannot expect instant gratification or success. You also need to be willing to put in long hours for little or no compensation in order to expect the rewards and growth of your business.

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

      I wish I had been properly trained in accounting allowing me to better understand bookkeeping. It would have been helpful to take more courses in marketing and sales so I would have been better prepared when it came time to expand my client base.  I actually would have liked to take more psychology classes so I could also understand the best way to work with the many different personalities I encounter on a daily basis. With the growing use of technology I think staying up on these changes is also very beneficial.

Reflection:

First of all, I have grown up knowing Donny from a very young age, and I had never thought of him as being an entrepreneur; he always just owned his own business in my mind. I hadn't even thought about asking him for the interview until my mom suggested him; a total light bulb went off, he is totally an entrepreneur!  
One thing that surprised me about Donny’s responses in the actual interview was how closely they aligned with the textbook’s writing. The dark side of entrepreneurship was obvious when I was talking to Donny. You can tell he has worked extremely hard to grow his business and it took a toll on him at times. One other thing I was surprised about was his desire for a background in psychology. It makes perfect sense; the more you know about people the more you know about what they want in a product.