Very Short Interview No. 1

***My interview was with Stephen Wolf, owner of Focaccia Village Pizzeria. Stephen is an entrepreneur because he owns and manages his own restaurant and the risks associated with it.***

Me: "When did you first know your entrepreneurial venture would be a success?"

Mr. Wolf: "Well, after the original Focaccia Village that I opened had been up and running for about 5 years, a friend of mine working in real estate told me he knew of an even better location for me to move the business to. At first I was very hesitant to move my entire business to a different location but after months of looking into it I decided to make the move. It was for the better. While our original location wasn't bad, it was not until we moved that customers started pouring in, business really got going and I began to think my restaurant could be a real success. I've now been at this location for over a decade."


Me: "What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur?"

Mr. Wolf: "The main thing that distinguishes an entrepreneur from others in the business world is their assumption of risk. If an entrepreneur opens a new business, like my restaurant, they are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of their business venture. These risks can be extremely high so that is why you often see entrepreneurial ventures fail. Successful entrepreneur's I've worked with also tend to be very driven and self-motivated."


Me: "What do you wish you had learned in school rather than once you were in the workplace?"

Mr. Wolf:  "I would say the biggest thing I learned in the workplace is that hard work pays off. In school, sometimes the lazy kids can get by but in the real world you have to be driven to be successful. That is probably the most important thing I can tell you."

***I was very surprised that Mr. Wolf successfully moved his restaurant. Relocating an entire business involves a lot of risk and that could have severely backfired for his business. It was also very interesting to learn from Mr. Wolf that entrepreneurs need to be driven, hardworking, and willing to take risks. I now see that those three characteristics are essential for a successful entrepreneur. My short interview with Mr. Wolf was very engaging and I look forward to meeting with him again in a few weeks.***