Networking Up-Date: Part 1

While visiting my roommate out in California for spring break other than playing some golf, and enjoying some good wine I also found time to unintentionally interview a very successful entrepreneur. Out of everyone’s conducted interviews I feel like this might be the most unique. It all started yesterday, St. Patrick’s Day when I and my roommate Spencer were enjoying a nice Guinness out under the California sun. We were sitting and enjoying these Guinness at one of the few tables at the pub. Eventually we were approached by these two men who really wanted this table and we offered to give it to them, being the nice guys we are. After a brief argument with this woman who was sitting by our table for an hour and waiting for us to get up; we eventually were able to hand over our table to these two men and their wives. Due to the fact that they asked us first was the ultimate reason, not because the woman was a nagging….you get the point.

Anyways it turned out that these two men were extremely successful entrepreneurs, and were very found of me and Spence solely because how loyal we were. After introducing ourselves we got to talking and we eventually came to the point of what they do. They explained to us how one of them, Greg, owned a wine bottling company. Basically his company manufactures the wine bottles themselves and then sells them to the winery’s so they can bottle there wine. He was telling us how difficult it first was for him, not being able to make a profit and incurring a loss every year. Like other entrepreneurs I spoke to, Greg as well had prior experience in the industry and new that he company was an important factor that wouldn’t stop growing as well as being able to set up networks with winery’s throughout California and the rest of the country. Other than asking Greg about the how he began his business and what was the turning point a major point was talking about financing and the importance of managing the space funds and limited time (the time left before the venture is bankrupt and has no investors waiting in line.

This friendship I’ve made was simply over a stupid table that meant absolutely nothing to me. But it shows you if you do the right thing and are a loyal person you will eventually meet and have the ball bounce your way. Me and Spence are extremely happy with the networking possibilities, advice and friendship we were able to grow in a short period of time. What I learned from this interview is that the financing is the time tables you have left to succeed before you fail, so everyday you need to make the right choices and do everything you got into your business and just be absolutely determined to win and be successful. He told me if he had any advice it would to be work as hard as you can everyday while your young, put your mind to what you feel can succeed and if “your smart and have a good idea” you will eventually succeed. He tells me working hard and breaking his back when he was in his twenties and early thirties was more than worth it; because he just went and ordered his second Ferrari; and life is not hard after you buy your first.

Once again thank you to Greg and his wife for a great dinner and great meeting you folks.