SmallBiz

Karl Vesper

In 1981, Vesper launched the concept that became the annual Frontiers of Entrepreneurial Research Conference, which is attended by people from around the world. A professor in both the faculties of business and engineering at the University of Washington, Vesper has testified in Congress on entrepreneurship and national policy and has spearheaded entrepreneurship programs at Westinghouse Electric and the University of Illinois.

Key points to consider:
An individual embarking on an entrepreneurial venture must realize that the experience involves the emotional implications of differing levels of failure, survival, and success throughout the growth process.

One of the core skills of an entrepreneur is the ability to sell, whether to users of the product or to investors in the business. When an entrepreneur is growing a business, selling to consumers can happen in various ways: responding to user feedback, advertising, establishing a retail presence, personally going to customers' offices, or paying someone else to do the selling. Part of growing a business often involves raising money, so the ability of the entrepreneur to sell his or her product will help refine selling skills that will help when presenting a proposal to potential investors.