(1) Entrepreneurship is a very challenging path to take, with many different possible directions. What made you decide to become an entrepreneur? Why did you choose your industry?

“Having to bounce from one job to another is when I realized I had to change something in my life in order to be successful. For this reason, I decided to open up my very own company that can be a business that also my family can run. Therefore, with my knowledge and background in marketing and promoting I chose to open up an advertising company because of my passion to helping other local and big businesses to become even more successful.”

(2) Tell me about your experience while attending EDTP. What have the major takeaways been from the program? Have you had any “Ah-hah!” moments? How did the program help you?

“With good out going people in the Entrepreneurial Development Training Program LAEDA has really helped my company grow. The other entrepreneurs in the class supported each other, motivated, and helped one another. My “Ah-hah” moment was learning all the concepts and components that make up and go into a business plan. LAEDA helped my company grow by providing me with the knowledge and one-on-one guidance in coming up with a successful business plan and sending me on the right paths of being an entrepreneur along with learning the essentials of the ins and outs of running a small business.

(3) Tell me about your journey on the road to business startup. What have been some of the challenges, successes, failures, etc.?

“At first starting my advertising company was a very bumpy road. However, nothing happens over night. Therefore, I did not give up and that is when with the help of my wife, Joaris we both were able to overcome the headaches that each entrepreneur eventually faces. At the start of our entrepreneurial journey, we had no clients, no income, and we both felt like we were just losing it all. Even at this point, we did not give up because we learned in the Entrepreneurial Development Training Program that bumps, challenges, and even failures occur, but overcoming them is what makes someone a successful entrepreneur. So we both stood focused and motivated to reach out to others and used our passion for helping other businesses become even more successful as being the secret ingredient for our success and not putting our hands down when matters seemed rough and impossible to overcome. After struggling for some time, we were able to land over 100 clients in the first month of having our business. This simply comes to show how much hard work and believing truly in your passion can turn even the toughest paths into successful ones.”

(4) Could you tell me a little about where your business is today?

“Today our company is located in Camden City. Working alone side with Angel Fuentes in City Hall helping promote the Hispanic Summits and with an average of 200 clients we are still reaching to expand through the whole tri state by keeping up to date with our industry, the entrepreneurial world, and other businesses that can use our services for leading to more success.”

(5) Do you have any advice for future (or existing) entrepreneurs?

“My advice for other entrepreneurs is to never give up, stay motivated, and never let others bring you down. Hold your head up high and never let failure or obstacles stand in between you and your passion.”

Congratulations to Mike Masif for completing EDTP and recommitting to his journey on the path of entrepreneurship. If you’d like to learn more about Mike Masif and his business, please email him on Urmagazine@Facebook.comand or at urmagazine@wordpress.com

The Entrepreneurial Development Training Program (EDTP) is a free, nine-week business skills training course offered in Camden, NJ in the Winter, Spring, and Fall each year. Qualified entrepreneurs receive 72+ hours of training from industry professionals, business planning, and one year of technical assistance. Apply online at www.LAEDA.com