Dave Hersh, CEO of Jive Software
How would you define what it is to be an entrepreneur
Someone with the passion to believe in something bigger than themselves, the talent to get it done, and the thick skin to not let things get in the way.
How did you get started as an entrepreneur? What in life prepared you most?
My first entrepreneurial venture was selling ninja weapons to the neighborhood kids at a markup—I was essentially a 12-yr old arms dealer. I think sports helps a lot as it's a great combination of leadership development, decision-making, teamwork and a healthy dose of brute force.
What is your philosophy and motivation as an entrepreneur?
One of the tougher parts has been a constant reinventing of myself to be what the company needs at that time—it's worse than Madonna. What 10 people in one room need from you is very different than 150 people along with a world class management team and board. Much of my time now is spent on communication and making sure everyone's aligned.
What advice do you have for to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?
1. Work on your character first.
2. Focus on what you do better than anyone else.
3. Bring in smarter people than yourself to take you to the next level.