Q: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Superior Case Coding is a business firm engaged in offering one stop solution for industrial case coding and ink jet coding needs. The company has grown leaps and bounds since its very inspection and has carved a niche in the packaging equipment industry. Owing to its quality oriented services, it has gained a wide clientele base.
Based in Vista, CA, we offer dedicated services to our customers with the best value in the packaging equipment market. We strive to run an efficient business direct to the customer by maximizing their business profits and minimizing the operational costs. Our wide range of equipment is available at cost effective rates.
Q: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I hold a bachelor’s degree in science and a masters degree in finance. I have started two successful companies, I have served some of the largest customers/businesses in the world on an ongoing basis.
Q: What ignited the spark in you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: We saw a strong demand in the ink-jet coding market for inexpensively priced equipment. We felt that the equipment in the packaging industry is overpriced and hence thought of starting this new venture in this domain.
Q: How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: ongoing training and having employees that are capable of excellent technical customer support is one of our core competencies.
Q: What three pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become entrepreneurs?
Ans:
- Running a smart business means 100% commitment.
- Always serve your business and your customers first, do not ask your business or your customers to serve you.
- Always ask yourself how to make a customer happy – what do they want to get or hear from your company so they have a pleasant experience with your organization?
Q: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: Nothing. I am happy with what I am today.
Q: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Dedication, hard work and commitment.
Q: How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: We give a deep thought to the idea until it really turns out to be useful. If it proves beneficial for us in serving our customers better, we go for it. But in case, we learn that the particular idea or method of improvement is not the best path, we re-focus on another way to approach the same.
Q: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 10 hours
Q: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: It allows a large degree of flexibility in certain respects, but results in long hours stay away from the family.
Q: What motivates you?
Ans: Improvement, providing prosperity and exciting upward mobility for employees, many of whom have never seen a healthy business ran with a comfortable working environment and strong growth in all respects, both personally and in regard to the business.
Q: How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Listening to the customers and solving their queries.
Q: What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: No real business fears. In fact, there is nothing to fear as long as you are completely committed and ready to work very hard.
Q: What are your ideals?
Ans: Comfortable working environment in which people treat each other with complete respect and create a prosperous future together. I love to see people get really excited when they realize that it is possible to run a business in which everyone pulls in the same direction to the betterment of all, employees and customers alike.
Q: How do you define success?
Ans: For me, success means betterment of all- the employees, the customers and the organization as a whole.
Q: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Steadfast dedication to attain the goal or purpose.
Q: Where did your organization’s funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: Sale of previous business provided capital, and hence no investors were required.
Q: How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: There is no quick solution to this. We have gained a broad customer base from all across the globe owing to our years of hard work and customer oriented service.
Q: How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: We were emphasizing on cost per square foot. As we believe that the location of our warehouse or offices does not play a part in our success we opted for an inexpensive commercial real estate for the purpose.
Q: Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: No. Either you are ready to commit, or you are not.
Q: If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: Mark Twain. He had a great mind and was a fantastic storyteller.
Q: Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: People like Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Reverend Bishop Desmond Tutu. I love their incredible dedication towards a good purpose.
Q: What book has inspired you the most? (OR What is your favorite book?)
Ans: The Heart of the Sea.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Problem solving and constant educational growth. If you don’t keep growing intellectually as an entrepreneur, you will not be very successful or keep your company growing.
Q: To what do you most attribute your success? What would say are the five key elements for starting and running a successful business?
Ans: I attribute the success of our company to strong determination and hard work. In my opinion, the 5 elements that play a significant role in running a successful business are:
- Dedication
- Hard work
- Working knowledge of your industry
- Patience
- Desire for self improvement
Q: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: There has not been just one single moment, but my favorite moments are when employees/coworkers began to realize economic benefits beyond what they have ever earned before, and when people see a bright future together. This state is not easy to produce, so when it is finally put together, it is very exciting.
Q: What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Less fear of the unknown and a great sense of self-reliance.
Q: What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Friendly and a comfortable working atmosphere with constant dedication to good purpose and respect for each other. We work as a cohesive whole and remain dedicated in offering the best possible solution to the customers, thereby enhancing the success of our organization.
Q: In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Dedication
Q: What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: Not paying attention to customer sensitivity to price.
Q: How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Taking effective measures in detecting the flaws in the operational system and work in a more dedicated manner to steer clear of any mistakes in near future.
Q: What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: Playing soccer, basketball, power-lifting.
Q: What makes you happy?
Ans: A positive, well run, growing business environment
Q: What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Quality time with family
Q: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Southwest Airlines and the early years at Wal-Mart.
Q: Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
Ans: Setting benchmarks in the packaging equipment industry with our product lines and a crew that is very technically capable and great at caring about the customer’s experience. Amidst a happy, prosperous, comfortable productive environment, where people are very glad to be a part of the organization.
