Very Short Interview Part 2

Back in the beginning of the school year, I spoke with artist and former neighbor, Adam Brett. Adam left a 6-figure job in New York City in order to pursue his dream of painting. Since I could not record an interview with him because of distance, he typed out his answers to the questions I sent him.

I asked Adam 4 questions:

• What should my expectations be in this course?
• I think most people would say this course should teach you how to start a business, whoever I believe it is about doing things for yourself. If you want to start your own business, best of luck. However, there is so much more to entrepreneurship, like taking risks and challenging yourself- seeing how far you can push. 
• What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?
• Being an entrepreneur means that you are your own boss, literally and figuratively. You can be your own boss is an economical sense, but also you are in charge of your actions and you determine your future. It is also about choosing happiness. Even if you aren't making the most money, you are chasing a dream, which in my opinion is much more fulfilling. 
• What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?
• I think my answer above sums it up- find your passion and follow your dream. Don't devote all efforts to the textbook, but really try to soak in examples your professor gives you and really try on your assignments. 
• What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur? 
• Well, I did attend UF, and got a degree in finance. I quit my job in NYC because I always had a dream of being an artist. I had family in Florida, so I moved to Jacksonville Beach. The lifestyle there is very easygoing- a good work environment for a work ethic like mine. In school, I wish they didn't teach me so much about getting a job, but about working hard to find what I was truly passionate about. 

My impression of this initial interview is that upon becoming an entrepreneur, it's not all about creating your own business, but learning how to do things yourself and really believing in your own ideas and understanding how to evolve them and make them better. 

Again, Adam was not available for a recorded interview due to distance. I sent him the questions and he sent back his responses:

• Do you think taking an entrepreneurship course is truly beneficial on the path to becoming an entrepreneur?
• I don't think it hurts but I think you need to just get out there and get experience. Talk to people, brainstorm ideas, take risks. It's all about creating your own future and doing what you love. There's only so much you can learn in a classroom. 
• What do you think it takes to become an entrepreneur?
• I think you need passion, a solid plan, people to back you up, and funds depending on what you're trying to accomplish. I think anyone can become an entrepreneur if it's what they really want to do and they put their mind to it. Most important, you need confidence. 
• (Upon explaining my venture concept of the Variety Van- my food truck idea) What do you think of my idea and do you find it plausible? 
• I think you're going to need funds for sure, but in an idealistic world, I think it's a fantastic idea. I love food trucks, the food is always fantastic. I think healthier options and variety on what you serve would be really popular among college students and people in their 20s in general. 

I think I've come a long way in this class in evolving in my idea and myself as an entrepreneur. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge now on what it takes to be an entrepreneur because out of all of Adam's responses, I can relate and feel like I would say something really similar. What he described I think says a lot about how far I've come in this class.