Very Short Interview No.1

I interviewed Sarah Fitzgerald who is the founder and owner of Healthcare Financial Group, LLC in Tampa, FL. This business provides consulting and accounting services to the hospital and healthcare industry since 1992 in the state of Florida. I believe she can be categorized as an entrepreneur because she saw an opportunity to provide this service to all of these hospitals that wasn't there before. She started this business because each hospital was using different companies, and her objective was to be able to create relationships within these hospitals in Florida. Then once she gained the trust of a couple hospitals, it slowly grew to now where they cover a lot of hospitals.

• What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?
• The first thing that comes to people’s minds, is the “risk-taking” aspect of being an entrepreneur.  Although it can be risky, the reward can easily outweigh the risk.  The key is to seize an opportunity, or meet an unmet need.  You don’t necessarily need to invent something in order to be an entrepreneur.  Being an entrepreneur means instantly becoming the boss instead of the employee, working until 10:00 at night, and borrowing $6,000 from your grandmother to buy your first computer like I had to!
• What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?
• Passion is a bonus.  Understand the difference between a hobby and a business.  In other words, doing something you are passionate about may not be enough to create or sustain a successful business, but seizing an opportunity and creating a successful business may give you the means to provide for those you are passionate about! Timing is key. You need to develop technical skills in your area of interest, that gain the respect of others.  There will come a time when an opportunity presents itself, and when you will have the gravitas to make a break.
• What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur?
• Technical skills are important, but so are relationships. Relationships with co-workers and clients/customers matter. Be a good listener. You don’t need to constantly “sell.”  Business opportunities will present themselves if you listen to the concerns of your clients/customers.

Although I know being an entrepreneur doesn't necessarily mean inventing something, it was nice to hear that confirmation from an entrepreneur because all she did was fulfilling an unmet need. Her answer to my second question was surprising because although it's tough to specifically teach entrepreneurship, she suggests to teach people to build businesses around their own passions. That was very inspiring because most people try to think of some out-of-the-box idea, but it's usually at your fingertips. Also, the idea of "timing" was something I never thought of, but it makes sense because sometimes different services are goods are required or most wanted at different times. Lastly,  it was interesting to hear her stress of relationships because at the of the day, you have to be able to work with people and have them respect you.