Very Short Interview, Part 2

• For this exercise, I would like you to revisit that first conversation you had with an entrepreneur. In that initial interview, you asked an entrepreneur three questions. Now, revisit this interview and think about the questions you asked and the answers they provided you. From where you stand now, what is your impression of that initial interview?

- The first thing I noticed about the initial interview was how easy the answers came for her. She was very self-confident from the start of the interview to the end. I also think she gave really good answers on the questions I decided to give her. It was well thought out and very detailed accounts of what she wished and thought about being an entrepreneur.  I think if the questions were thrown at me, I don’t think I would have done it as well as her. I also liked how she put in a small yet meaningful quote from Simon Sinek. Overall, I think she did phenomenally well in this interview.

• Second, visit the entrepreneur again. Record the interview if possible. The three questions you ask this time are entirely up to you. Let your experiences in this course drive what questions you ask -- and that will be very different for each of you! 

1.) Time management and stress seems like something that is unavoidable. What are some things that you do cope with the stress and time managing?
- I’ve found that taking small breaks every once in a while to clear my head is always helpful. I’ve also encouraged my team to take breaks for a few weeks at a time if they need to get away and focus on themselves until they are prepared to return to their duties. When we have our challenges, I would much rather have someone energized and ready to take them on than have that person burn out and spread negative energy later.

2.) Do you get along with everyone that you work with? How do you manage those under you who are difficult?
- While I do get along with everyone I work with and consider them to be good friends, we come across occasional disputes. I value everyone on my team, so if I’m ever having a difficult time, the first thing I will do is become a listening ear. I want to hear what they have to say and what is causing their frustration. Once I get a clear understanding of what is causing the difficulty within our working relationship, I will acknowledge the issue at hand and offer the possibility of a compromise.

3.) What are some thinks you do that helps you focus on your daily tasks?
- With all of the challenges that arise both professionally and personally, it’s difficult to stay focused sometimes on day-to-day tasks. In order to keep myself in check, I will write to-do lists everywhere — on my desk, on my computer screen and on my phone. When I feel overwhelmed, I will also turn to exercise to re-energize. Going for a mile-long run will usually help me clear my head and feel more positive in general.

• Third, after the interview, try to gather some sense of how far you have come in this class. In your post, discuss your comfort level in talking about entrepreneurship in this interview now, compared to three months ago. Did the entrepreneur convey a sense that they thought you had progressed in your journey?

- In the start of this class, I was very uncomfortable with interviewing people in general. I was shy and was not the most confident in some of the assignments we had to do that involved interactions with random strangers. I think through this class, gradually, I overcame the fear that I had in the beginning of this class. I am not sure if the person I interviewed noticed my voice but I think I sounded more confident over the phone than I did during our first interview we had couple weeks back. I think I was straight to the point and I knew what I wanted from her. Lastly, I think she appreciated that I valued her time. I didn’t want to take too much of her time because I know how busy an entrepreneur can get.