Congratulations, you were recently selected as the recipient of the Entrepreneurial Council for High Achievement ’s annual grant. You applied for the award almost a year ago, detailing your academic and professional achievements, entrepreneurial experience and aptitude, and undergoing a series of intensive interviews. Your efforts have paid off and this is your opportunity to do what you have always wanted – run your own company. 

With the award comes $ 10 million in venture capital backing to start your own profit making venture. The investors prefer to stay in the background and let you do what you do best, so you will be given complete autonomy to start any type of for- profit company you want. This initial round of funding could be supplemented with additional financial backing if your company does well in its early stages.

To begin your venture, you must begin by answering a series of questions about the company that you will start. It may help to put some serious thought into creating a company that provides a useful product or service.

Carefully consider these questions and write a response to each one:

1. What are you passionate about? What really peaks your interest and gets your blood flowing?

2. What product or service could your company provide that is consistent with your passion and interest?

3. How do you want others to see you and your company? When your employees are hanging out at the water cooler, what will they say about you?

4. Prepare a draft for your company ’ s vision statement.

5. List at least 10 behaviors that you could carry out each day to live the vision.