Today I’m delighted to be featuring NICK HILL, otherwise known as Mr Presenter. 
Nick helps people improve their communication skills, develop their presentation skills and increase their personal effectiveness in sales and relationships.
Nick let me have some great answers to my eight questions.
Q1 Nick…How would you define an entrepreneur?
For me an entrepreneur is a person who is fending for themselves to create an environment where they can be successful, whatever success is to that person. Part of that role involves learning, experiencing new experiences, immersing yourself in a world of personal development and developing your behaviours to meet the needs of the many challenging environments.
Q2 Do you think entrepreneurs are born or made and why?
Speaking to you as someone who is involved in personal development training I’d have to say both. Skills and behaviours can be learned so the opportunity to learn from others and model behaviours means that with the right mindset you can achieve what you set out to achieve. Setting objectives is formula driven. The challenge for most is ‘working out what you want in the first place.’ For me that was the hardest part. I realised that I’ve been what might be called institutionalisation or programmed. Sounds severe but for me it something I believe. We are conditioned socially and develop behaviours. Understanding how and why you operate can be an amazing experience as well as frustrating. Yet there will always be natural born performers!
Q3 Tell me about how you became an entrepreneur
I’ve always worked in sales and from that point of view being as proactive as you can was always a priority. From an early age I’d worked in the restaurant trade when American bar diners were the in thing and made a fortune in tips. Working in IT, Security and Telecomms recruitment sectors for 10 years helped me to understand what I’d refer to as ‘revenue generating machines’ – it’s was a good piece of schooling. After marrying wife, Jen (affectionally known as ‘the Jeneral’) I did a stint on a government project before finally deciding to “do it now or never” and for me, the attraction at the time was the thought of being my own boss. It’s ironic that ‘sometimes’ I wish I had a manager. Self discipline can be tough!
Q4 Tell me about what you think makes an entrepreneur successful
As well the obvious ones, the key is working out your purpose as a business or yourself if you are ‘the brand.’ It’s a higher level of thinking. I’m not a trainer, I give people confidence. Also having the belief and enjoying the good times. Having the ability to ask for help or accept help is not a weakness, it’s a valuable business tool.
Q5 What’s been your biggest success as an entrepreneur?
Success for me is an emotional way of describing how you feel about something. For me, seeing my testimonials is an exhilarating experience. Some of my customers say that their lives have changed as a result of the training. I just see it as me creating an environment where people learn skills at a quick rate. That makes me feel successful. I am driven by high standards and am proud of building a reputation based on helping people become more confident at this thing called business. I’ve worked with some of the worlds leading companies, am about to work in Canada and Las Vegas which was something I remember thinking about working overseas as a 14 year old boy. Living the dream? You tell me!
Q6 And what’s been your toughest challenge?
Easy. Getting over the fact that I don’t know it all and needed more help than i thought. I’m a proud person and accepting assistance was difficult. A phrase my Dad used to say, if you want a job doing right do it yourself’ meant that letting go of tasks has been challenging. Not having clearly defined objectives, not planning as much as I should, loads of stuff. It creates problems. Also accepting that the higher your profile raises, the more people will start to go against you. It’s an emotional roller coaster, sometimes it’s fast, sometimes it’s slow, you get jolted forwards and backwards often!
Q7 If you could give one piece of advice to a budding entrepreneur what would it be?
Just keep focused and be open to the many ways in which you can grow your business. Technology is moving so quickly that traditions soon evaporate. Surround yourself with a network of people that are doing what you want to do. People who value you and who you value. Strive to offer exceptional service.
Q8 How can people find out more about you and your business?
If people want to find out more about me they can go to www.mrpresenter.com and access all the other social media. Then follow @TheMrPresenter on Twitter!
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