David Hauser - GotVMail Communications - www.gotvmail.com

Blog: davidhauser.com/MINDdrift
Title: Co-founder & CTO
Industry: Telecomunications
Type of company: The Entrepreneur’s Phone System
Year founded: 2003
Location: Needham, MA / Austin, TX
Number of employees: 45

1. What is the startup story behind gotvmail.com?

As entrepreneurs we started the company to fill a need that we had at other start-ups. A professional image and enhanced productivity.

2. What is your definition of success and has your company achieved it?

Empowering entrepreneurs to succeed every day

3. To what do you attribute your company’s recent achievements?

The amazing people that we have here who embody our core values every day

4. How important have good employees and team members been to your success?

The most important thing for sure. You have to hire the smartest and best people, setup them up to succeed and do everything you can to get out of their way.

5. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?

We have self funded everything and been profitable since our 2nd month of operations

6. What stops you from throwing in the towel and giving up during those frustrating days of running your business?

The sense of accomplishment in helping entrepreneurs every day

7. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?

Passion, the idea does not matter, the technology does not matter, you have to have passion for whatever it is and put everything you can plus some into it.

8. What book has inspired you the most?

Good to Great is an excellent book and not just a business book. Also the Alchemist which has nothing to do with business and all about passion and dreams

9. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?

We do a lot of online marketing Google, Yahoo, etc. Also more traditional mediums such as print, radio and TV. Branding is very important as well and has helped push us to the next level and will continue to do so.

10. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.

Exhilarating

11. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

Google

12. How do you achieve balance in your life? Or do you?

This is very difficult and I am sure those around me have a different view. As an entrepreneur there is no off time but you have the flexibility to change your time and schedules as needed. Also personal health is critical and the best change I made in the past year has been going to personal training at least twice a week in the mornings.

13. Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years? 10 years?

GotVMail will be serving entrepreneurs with the services and products they need to succeed.

14. What’s your exit strategy?

None at this time

15. If we could introduce you to anyone, who would it be and why? (you never know who we know!)

CEO of Rackspace or Richard Branson

Evan Carmichael
YoungEntrepreneur.com Blog Manager

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