Q 1. 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: Located in Miami, Florida, Drake Finance was founded in 2000. Our company finances international exports for small to medium sized US companies that export. Our financing allows US companies to grow their export sales by offering their foreign buyers credit terms
Q 2. 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 am the founder of Drake Finance. My background in international business spans over two decades. (please refer to my bio in the website)
Q 3. What inspired 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: The Drake for Drake came about while living and working in Venezuela where I headed the Florida Department of Commerce’s office in Caracas. I realized that many Venezuelan companies were in need of financing and credit terms from their US suppliers. This presented an opportunity to fill that void.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Carefully Plan, execute and never quit!
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Focus, commitment and concentration.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 14
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Anticipating change and never surrendering your dream
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: We market as follows: SEO, blogging, e-mail campaign, existing clients, trade events and in in my view the most effective—-cold calling.
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: We started with very limited capital, but ultimately secured over USD35million from our funding sources (financial institutions) to fund our deals.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Innovation, creating value and perseverance.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: An unparalleled and leading boutique trade finance company providing domestic receivable factoring as well.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Meridian Trade Finance due to its depth of knowledge and staying power
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: VITAL
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I rarely give up in an idea.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: Learning and bringing value to others
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: Service and integrity
Q 17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: By identifying problems
Q 18. How do you define success?
Ans: Serving others and being passionate about one’s mission
Q 19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Service, service and adding value
Q 20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: No limits as to growing and learning and not accepting the status quo
Q 21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Achieving or surpassing an objective
Q 22. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: An entrepreneur is willing to take risks and is able to control fear.
Q 23. 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: Collegial; a team approach; and minimal hierarchy
In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Exhilarating
Q 24. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: I would have started my entrepreneur track earlier
Q 25. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: There are sacrifices that must be made—time
Q 26. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: Not achieving goals; I quell this by believing with absolute certainty I’m giving it my all
Q 27. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: It’s where I was raised and logistically it’s conveniently located since a large part of our business serves the Latin American markets
Q 28. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: You have to be passionate about your business, be detailed oriented, plan carefully, be able to constantly problem solve and never quit.
Q 29. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: Theodore Roosevelt. He was bright, brave, resilient, wise and stuck to his convictions at all costs.
Q 30. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: Anthony Robbins
Q 31. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind Cash by Harv Eckert
Q 32. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: Being impatient and intransigent
Q 33. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Thwart it as soon as possible
Q 34. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: Martial arts, reading and traveling
Q 35. What makes you happy?
Ans: Connecting with my friends, my team and spending time with my family
Q 36. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: I’ve sacrificed time with friends and family.
Company Detail:
Company name Drake Finance, Inc.
Address 5201 Blue Lagoon Dr, Ste 807
City Miami
State FL
Zip Code 33126
Tel No (305) 854-0101
Fax (305) 629-3237
E-mail Id info@drakefinance.com
Year Established 2000