Entrepreneurial Skills for Whatever You Do When Robert Rifkin was 11 years old, he realized that his mother was struggling financially as a single parent. "I knew that I wanted to earn money to help her out. For the next three years, I thought about how to do that."When he saw a DJ at work at a party, Robert thought being a DJ might be a good way for him to earn money so he could help his mother. "I learned from the DJ that he made good money, had fun, and had a lot of independence," said Robert. "I love music so I decided to become a DJ Becoming a DJ For the next three years, Robert saved up every dollar he could. When he had enough money, he bought the minimal amount of equipment it took to be a DJ and started his business. "I created professional contracts, a music list, a request list, and some business cards Robert Reffkin Finally, I bought the equipment, started to advertise, the same level of professionalism he employed with his, and I got my first job that summer. It was a small house client. He gave them his business card, sent them his party that only paid $50, but people liked my work and resume, wrote them thank-you letters, and followed referred me to their friends. I was on my way!" up on major developments in his life. Robert believes Robert worked at school dances, homecomings, and bars that "this lent credibility to my application and led mitzvahs, weddings, NAACP parties, and Black Student to being accepted at Columbia. He received partial Uniondances. 

He also organized his own events. Being scholarship and being able to help pay for the rest of a DJ was a physically and emotionally tiring job and his college education with the money he had earned combining it with school left him exhausted. from his DJ business. Robert's entrepreneurial skills and successful DJ Learning How to Run a Business business gave him the 'extraordinary confidence and In high school, Robert took an entrepreneurship course the entrepreneurial belief that anything is possible" He in which he learned some critical business and profes graduated from Columbia in 27 years and went on to sional skills he didn't have. He developed a business become a consultant at McKinsey & Co, get his MBA plan, which won a $500 grant that he invested in his at Columbia, and become a White House Fellow and business. Robert's success in business gave him the then a Wall Street investment banker confidence to pursue bigger dreams, even though many people discouraged him. For example, when his Thinking Like an Entrepreneur high school counselor said he wouldn't be admitted to

Answer the following questions:

1. Robert picked a business that appealed to his love of music and also one that would pay well. How would you decide on a business opportunity?

2. What entrepreneurial skills do you think be necessary to start a DJ business?

3. Robert believes that entrepreneurship will help you in other aspects of your life. What do you think?