Andrew Vest is an entrepreneur to his core. He’s a natural businessman who’s passionate about creating strategic partnerships, sales for startups, and overall being a connector within his network. Currently, Andrew consults with early-stage companies in the areas of sales and marketing. While consulting, he and his co-founder are building Preferling, an interest-based recommendation engine for products and services. As a small business founder himself who wants to give back, Andrew is sympathetic and dedicated to helping and empowering entrepreneurs to reach their dreams. Before Preferling, Andrew was Co-Founder of The Agency, a social media and strategy consulting firm based in the Seattle area. Follow him @AndrewVest.
Who is your hero?
Richard Branson.
What’s the single best piece of business advice that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?
Business is all about the people everything else is second. Focus on the end user and work backwards. Also I always live by the “Pay it forward” method.
What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?
My biggest mistake was assuming I knew what my customers wanted vs. asking them. What I learned was listen more and speak less.
What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?
I turn on Pandora, then plan my day based off of emails and my social networks.
What’s your best financial/cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?
Have multiple avenues to make money when you get started — basically, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket!
Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?
Find great mentors and advisors.
What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?
I think success and “succeeded” are two different things. I can have success in small wins like gaining a million users or even selling the company to a larger entity, but when I’ve truly succeeded I believe that’s when my kids get married and have businesses of their own.
