My Entrepreneurial Life

What is an entrepreneurial life like and how does it feel to start and run a new business?

Produced during the 2020 pandemic and delivered as a podcast, this post reflects on 30 years of work and shares my experience and take on entrepreneurial life and being an entrepreneur.

Within the recording you’ll hear views on: the personal qualities required to succeed; Why success always starts with failure; Learning how to be objective and realistic; The impact of Business on family life; And finally, surprising strategies for entrepreneurial success.

To relate practice and theory, I also recommend a few high quality reads, all of which have helped me to advance my entrepreneurial career.

 

Entrepreneurial life Podcast 1 – Introduction

For the benefit of all, you can also download a transcript of this episode.

 

Supporting Learning and Teaching

Since I was unable to deliver this presentation in person at York St John University in March 2020 (due to the Pandemic), it was agreed that the work would be recorded as a Podcast instead.

If you have any feedback or questions about the points made, why not leave a note below or contact me on social media? Reach me on twitter – search for ‘PeteSimVenture’, or message and connect via the Linkedin profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/petesimventure/

References

Thanks go to the following people who all research and write great stuff.

• Adapt: Why Success always starts with Failure – Tim Harford
• All in Start-up – Diana Kander
• Golden Circles – Simon Sinek
• Give and Take – Adam Grant
• Flipping Classrooms – Romano Zavaroni

Peter is one of two founding directors and also CEO at Venture Simulations Ltd (VSL). In 2006, VSL launched SimVenture Classic, the start-up business simulation software that went onto win multiple awards. In 2016 the company released the on-line simulation, SimVenture Evolution which allows people to start, manage and scale a new venture. SimVenture products are now used in 40+ countries.

Peter is also Chair at Qa Research, the company he started in 1989 after completing his degree in York. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Entrepreneurship Blog came to life in 2010 when Peter (whilst overnighting in a Florida airport hotel) suddenly recognised the parallels between his wide and varied travels as a hitchhiker and his work as an entrepreneur.

As a result of starting and growing companies in different fields, Peter uses his experience to share thinking as an Entrepreneur in Residence at London South Bank University and the London School of Economics.