EA-TOKYO INTERVIEWS
ANDREW SILBERMAN
AMTGROUP
July 02 2003- Mr. Andrew Silberman President & Chief Enthusiast for the AMT GROUP will be speaking along with Mr. William Reed about Guerrilla Marketing.
1. When did you start your first business? What was it? What lessons did you take away from the experience?
VERY first business was selling homegrown lemons, oranges, cumquats and tangellows door to door at age 5 or 6.
First "real" business was "Silberman & Associates" in San Diego. Lesson taken away: the MOST important thing you need to start a business is a paying customer.
2. When did you start your current business(es)?
1992.
3. How did you choose to form them? (yugen kaisha, Kabushiki kaisha, private company)
K.K. is the "respected" form of business in Japan. I wanted to demonstrate my commitment to Japan, to this market. A branch wouldn't do. I felt a K.K. was the way to go.
4. What was the most difficult aspect of starting your business(es) in Japan?
There's only ONE difficulty of starting any business: getting enough quality customers to be profitable. It's an ongoing challenge, but at first, with a limited track record, it's bound to feel more difficult. The biggest hurdle is deciding to make it a success.
5. Do you see yourself as an Entrepreneur? Why?
I'm the founder of my company, so yes, I see myself as an entrepreneur. However, the author of the E-Myth might say differently, since I was a management trainer who started a management training company. I'm not the "classic" entrepreneur who seeks out a business opportunity, raises capital and speaks of "scalablilty" or "exit strategies". I'm here to grow a successful enterprise for the long run.
6. What is your definition of an entrepreneur?
I like Mark Victor Hansen's definition best: Entrepreneurs find and create massive value for other people at a profit. Entrepreneurs create jobs, foster excitement, and basically make the system work. They see possibilities where others see only problems. Entrepreneurs think to grow rich.
7. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone interested in starting there own business in Japan?
Be sure you know what you want and why.
8. Can you recommend any resources such as books, websites or supports centers for entrepreneurs in Japan?
Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo!
PostivePress.com
Write it Down, Make it Happen, by Henriette Anne Klauser
The Way of the Guerrilla, by Jay Conrad Levinson
9. Who are your mentors in business and life?
My "Grampa Hy", my father's step-father. He taught me to try everything once and that unless a company was going to pay me USD 100,000 per year back in 1988, the thing to do is start my own company.
My High School English teacher, Mr. Larry Johsens who taught me how to write and how to enjoy reading.
Countless authors, among them David Maister, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Thich Naht Hahn, Anthony de Mello.
www.amt-group.com
