interview with mr bernie utchenlik so jami florence, ho lee wen, verena lee, alexander, zhang liming
TRANSCRIPT
Entrepreneur Case Study
Interview with Mr Bernie Utchenlik
So Jami Florence, Ho Lee Wen, Verena Lee, Alexander, Zhang Liming
Who is that Man?
Born in Detroit About 60 years old Came to Singapore in 1990 Set Up his first company in 1996 Married in November 1998 Became a Singapore Citizen in 2010 Self-taught Chef
Botak Jones
His Company
Botak Jones is under the “GREAT BIG FOOD”
51% owned my him and his wife First Botak Jones started in Tuas in
2003, with initial investment of $10,000
Office is in Defu Lane, 5,000 sq ft central kitchen
Company Mission
To provide well-made restaurant quality food and service in industrial and heartland residential areas where it hasn’t been available before.
Running the Business…
You have to be passionate about what you do! You have to transparent, honest. It’s more than just making money, it’s about doing it
right. Service is beyond attitude, its understanding and
putting others above self. Service culture can be taught. But personality cannot be taught. During first year, spend about $100.000 for good service
It is 100 times harder to find people that passionate about food. People rather working at lower salary in City Area than for higher salary and better working hour in Botak Jones. If breathing and willing to work, already 50% fit to work
Most Important Culture
“Treat everyone as a human being until they give you reason not to”
“Never say no to customer”
(give further explanation about the service)
Future of Botak Jones
He says he is still passionate about Botak Jones.
Always looking for new ideas to expand.
They have plans to franchise their business in Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and China.
On Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur cannot be trained, it must be from inside. Entrepreneurs are very impatient people. They can’t wait to take
action! The difference between Entrepreneurs is that they have an idea, they
take action. They are not afraid to take up the challenge. Entrepreneurs might not be able to run a business, but definitely make a
business. They are strategists. They create ideas. They feel will not be able to live a full life, unless they try. Need to have very good intuition. It is about giving people alternatives. Entrepreneurs got to stand on a sound business operation with a bottom
line, with mini requirements. Networking… you got to know the right people who will then connect you. Couple working together usually a negative thing, but turn it into
something positive.
May need to be removed: He claims decisions are based on his gut feel. Entrepreneurship cannot be taught, You got to do it, take action
She Says…..
“He is just such an honest and nurturing person”“He is a man who means what he
says. I feel very safe with him”“He jokes with a straight face. It's his
American sense of humour. “
He Says…..
“My partner, in business and in life”“She is very understanding and allows me to be myself”“I am the entrepreneur, she is the
business person who runs the day-to-day operations”
Advice for Entrepreneur To Be The better you surround yourself with capable person,
the better you will be When running a business, is important to adjust to the
rules of the games, understand the system, and then get the right person.
People should be transparent and honest for reason more than making money should this be a belief or advise?
Must really care about you're doing, more important than getting it done (by rushing). Put a face, put inner pride, it show what you're doing
When you do something bad, then you do amazing thing to remedy the situation, the remedy will be the one that talked more.
When a business grows, management style needs to change. company. Trust people , or at least listen.
Our Learning Points (example..) Do what you are passionate about! Have pride in your work! Treat everyone equally. Treat them like you want
other people treat you. Life is not all about work. (need to put what else) You cannot just have entrepreneur stand on its
own, you must have a good business plan and capable ‘comrades’ to maintain the business
Networking is very important in business start up.
(just my thoughts…. Please add, take out or rephrase)
The Interview
Can use either pic………………Alex: I vote right picLW: Either one also good.
The makan after that…
Choose either pix… Alex: Too bad the right one is blurry, its better the right one.LW: The right one is better look livelier