"I think the biggest fear that people have always had when starting their own business is that they are afraid to take that leap of faith."
Chris Biscuiti works at Minuteman Press International, the world’s #1 rated printing and marketing franchise (Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2021). Chris is a lifelong writer, self-published author, and serves as MPI’s PR Rep, interviewing small business owners across the Minuteman Press franchise system that spans five countries – the USA, Canada, the UK, South Africa, and Australia.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself to our readers. They want to know you, some of the background story to bring some context to your interview.
Chris Biscuiti: I have a passion for writing and helping people put words to their stories, particularly small business owners and entrepreneurs. I also share my own experiences and emotions through poetry, graduating from Binghamton University in 2001 as an English & Creative Writing Major. Outside of work, I am also the parent of a special needs child and I have written about my experiences on several platforms.
You are a successful entrepreneur, so we’d like your viewpoint, do you believe entrepreneurs are born or made? Explain.
Chris Biscuiti: I believe that there are entrepreneurs who fall into both categories. Some people are born into family businesses or simply always wanted to create something that is uniquely theirs. With that said, there are also many entrepreneurs who never even realized they could own their own businesses. For example, if someone gets laid off, they might decide they don’t want to work for someone else anymore. As a result, they might look into owning their own business. Franchising is a great option because they can be their own boss but also receive help along the way.
If you were asked to describe yourself as an entrepreneur in a few words, what would you say?
Chris Biscuiti: I would say that it’s important to have the drive and work ethic, on top of strong support. I believe authenticity is the key and I try to be authentic in my interactions.
Tell us about what your company does and how did it change over the years?
Chris Biscuiti: Minuteman Press International is a family-owned and operated franchise. I am proud to work for a company that puts people first and helps entrepreneurs realize their dreams. Today, Minuteman Press provides innovative printing, design, marketing, mailing, and promotional services to clients.
Thank you for all that. Now for the main focus of this interview. With close to 11.000 new businesses registered daily in the US, what must an entrepreneur assume when starting a business?
Chris Biscuiti: It’s important for people who are looking to own their own business to do their research and due diligence. They must assume that it’s going to take work on their part, and it’s important to be prepared. Also, one of the biggest keys that people often don’t think about is the fact that you are nothing without your employees. For any small business, you must put the right staff in place and treat them the right way.
Did you make any wrong assumptions before starting a business that you ended up paying dearly for?
Chris Biscuiti: Franchising is a great way to avoid these assumptions and obstacles because you are following a proven system and not re-inventing the wheel.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what advice would you give yourself and why? Explain
Chris Biscuiti: The advice I would give is to simply trust in your instincts and that it’s okay to ask questions. Networking with like-minded business owners is also huge for listening and learning.
What is the worst advice you received regarding running a business and what lesson would you like others to learn from your experience?
Chris Biscuiti: Anyone who says you can’t do it or is dismissive without listening to you is not worth associating with. Being realistic is good, but being pessimistic is never a winning play.
In your opinion, how has COVID-19 changed what entrepreneurs should assume before starting a business? What hasn’t changed?
Chris Biscuiti: I think the biggest fear that people have always had when starting their own business is that they are afraid to take that leap of faith. During the pandemic, first-time entrepreneurs might have been hesitant to start up on their own. Where franchising comes in is that you can make that leap but also have a little bit of a safety net in terms of the systems that are in place and the support that you receive.
What is a common myth about entrepreneurship that aspiring entrepreneurs and would-be business owners believe in? What advice would you give them?
Chris Biscuiti: One common myth is that perhaps it’s too hard to transition to business ownership. I would say if you really believe you would be happier working for yourself instead of someone else, then entrepreneurship could be the right career path for you.
What traits, qualities, and assumptions do you believe are most important to have before starting a business?
Chris Biscuiti: The biggest quality or trait to have is to be determined and driven. If you are not prepared to make it happen, then it simply won’t work.
How can aspiring leaders prepare themselves for the future challenges of entrepreneurship? Are there any books, websites, or even movies to learn from?
Chris Biscuiti: It all depends on how you like to learn and process information. I will say that having a printed book, magazine, or newspaper in my hands helps me digest more information because I tend to be less distracted. With that said, there are many great websites to learn from especially when doing research. One shortcut that will save you time is to visit the website of the business or franchise you are interested in directly so that you can see for yourself how they present themselves and how transparent they are with their business model.
You have shared quite a bit of your wisdom and our readers thank you for your generosity but would also love to know: If you could choose any job other than being an entrepreneur, what would it be?
Chris Biscuiti: Writing has always been my passion, and so I can’t imagine doing anything else. One piece of advice my dad gave me growing up was that if you can write and communicate, you’ll always have a job and a place in this world. That always stuck with me and writing has become my fondest outlet personally and a huge part of my professional career.
Thank you so much for your time, I believe I speak for all of our readers when I say that this has been incredibly insightful. We do have one more question: If you could add anyone to Mount Rushmore, but not a politician, who would it be; why?
Chris Biscuiti: My son is seven years old and has many special needs that require 24/7 supervision and care. I would not be able to choose one person to be on Mount Rushmore, but instead, I would put up some kind of tribute to special needs caregivers, teachers, therapists, family members, and those who have empathy. Instead of a Mount Rushmore, I would create a collage of people and show it to the world.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Chris Biscuiti for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Chris Biscuiti or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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