My Venture as an Entrepreneur

It has been almost one year since my interest to become an entrepreneur really started. I remember going to the entrepreneur lecture sessions, which always got me excited about starting my own small business. The lecture that stuck out to me the most, was that of Alan Akina.

Little did I know then, that I would get to meet him again as a judge during the semi-finals of BYU-Hawaii's entrepreneurship competition. Even though I did not make it to the finals, he gave me courage later that week that it has been a close call the judges made, and that I really should consider the idea of "Beef Sup'Herb".

I have clipped below the article written about his lecture back in September 2007.

clipped from newsroom.byuh.edu BYU-Hawaii basketball alum extols entrepreneurship Mike Foley | University Advancement | 18 September 2007 Alan Akina, a BYU-Hawaii basketball player from 1991-95, told School of Business students in the September 18 entrepreneurship lecture how he was inspired to start several businesses while still a full-time student at the university. He also shared some of the keys to the success he has enjoyed since then and encouraged the students to begin developing networks with professors and peers. "Once you start a business, dig deep and look for other opportunities that may come about from your existing business," he continued. But in doing so, he stressed again, "You've got to do a business that will generate revenue right away. You need the money to keep going." Akina said it's also important to provide value to keep customers consuming your product or services at higher margins, relative to the competition.

Feasibility Studies

Yesterday I finished my final exam for the capstone class in BYU-Hawaii’s Hospitality and Tourism program. I really enjoyed this class and its assignments. In this class you really knew that you learned something that will help you in the future no matter which direction you choose in business. I most enjoyed doing the feasibility studies for hotels. These studies inspired me to look into doing something in that direction. My wife and I are excited to run my Beef Sup’Herb project in form of a restaurant. Now where I have done some feasibility studies; I have to look into if I am better off purchasing an already existing restaurant or starting out fresh. I assume that it will make more sense to purchase, but who knows what is out there on the market.

Personal Mission Statement

In the leadership principles course I am currently taking at BYU-Hawaii, our professor has taught us the value of a personal mission statement. After giving it some thought I developed the following:

To understand business owners in a way that they feel comfortable with me as their manager so that their company can excel in its performance and bring them higher returns on investments made.

When writing it I thought about who I am and what I would like to do in my life when it come to the choice of a career. I will be soon graduating and am not quite sure if I will actually start operations of my business "Beef Sup'Herb". Having made it into the semi-finals of BYU-Hawaii's business plan competition and having received positive feedback from some established entrepreneurs here on the island I am actually considering it.

I decided that whether I start "Beef Sup'Herb" or not I still need to have similar knowledge and qualities listed in the mission statement. Hopefully I can reach out to those that have similar career desires, because I enjoy getting together with others to share thoughts and ideas on business management.

My personal blog is here to invite others to take a look at my business ideas and comment on them during the time I am developing these ideas, as well as for others to learn and be inspired to take the risk of entrepreneurship. Since I still am in need of an internship position in a hospitality business and because I am looking for a partner to do business with I listed some of my knowledge and
experiences.

An Introduction to My Work Experiences

I have solid experience in recruiting, coordinating, and managing a small amount of people. I also have been developing my culinary skills for some time now. I took accounting classes during my vocational schooling in Germany and also earned an Accounting Certificate from LDS Business College. As a two year apprentice at a German wholesale company, I ordered goods, checked delivery times, wrote delivery paper and bills. My duties also included the correspondence with customers and suppliers as well as communications with the aforementioned over the phone, via fax and e-mail. I also received and worked on fulfilling orders from the company’s customers. After my apprenticeship, I worked for the same company as an Assistant Manager of Wholesale and Foreign Trade. I took two MS Office classes, and received my Eagle Scout Award in Germany and was a member of the board of students, at the vocational school I attended.

I will earn a BS degree from Brigham Young University - Hawaii in Hospitality and Tourism Management in December of 2008.

I have had an entrepreneurial spirit since my childhood, baking German cakes, which I sold door-to-door in my neighborhood. I have cooked meals for my family ever since I was given a cookbook for my 7th birthday. I have a talent for using flavors. I grew up in a family that knows how to cook traditional European meals, especially German. My family always had a high interest in a variety of ethnic cuisine. We would purchase ingredients from all kinds of different ethnic shops, and cook with.

I worked for a company that provides custodial as well as kitchen cleaning services for IKEA. I worked for UPS, Deseret Book, and LDS Business College. I also worked as a ranch-hand on the certified-organic Rocky-A-Ranch in Idaho, and as a prep-cook for BYU-Hawaii Food Services. I currently dedicate my interests to the hospitality industry, organic food, and sustainable agriculture.