Amber (20) from The Netherlands is the founder of AmbitionWise. She is one of few people who loves to watch ads, and maybe even the only person you will ever know to do so. Amber's addicted to golf, fusion sushi and Jakarta, and convinced M&M Cripsy’s are flown in fresh from heaven. When she’s all grown up she will be the best in everything, but her talent for sleeping in late will do for now. For AmbitionWise, Amber will cover the best young business talents and will bring business ideas with @ventures. Johan Sellner: Johan’s Icecreambar
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Name
Johan Selner
Johan Selner
Age
23
23
Company
Johan’s Icecreambar
Johan’s Icecreambar
Home
Leksand (Sweden)
Leksand (Sweden)
Education
Bachelor degree Business Administration and Management
Bachelor degree Business Administration and Management
Motto
There is no such thing as a free lunch
There is no such thing as a free lunch
Nobody’s happy about global warming, but most of us do enjoy the warm and sunny days that come along with it. Swedish Johan Sellner is doing good business with his very own ice cream shop. Johan got a job and wasn’t planning on bringing all his savings to the bank. Instead, he chose to start this business. His cones are very popular. Nobody who can say no to one on a hot summer’s day!
A brief overview of what your company does:
My company is selling high quality ice cream, sodas and different kinds of coffee during the summer.
How did you get into business?
I worked a lot after I finished high school and saved a lot of money. I didn’t want the bank to have my money for an interest smaller then the price of an average soda. I wanted to do something creative with my money. After a while I came up with the idea to buy an already existing business and work to get it better.
Did you run into many obstacles?
I didn’t run into so many obstacles. Before I signed the contracts I rang everybody involved up and asked around if there had been any problems with the previous owners. Thanks to this effort I didn’t have bigger problems than that I ran out of paint one time.
Which achievements are you proud of?
I am proud of increasing the sales with 50% in two years. The sales in 2006 have reached a quarter of a million kronor. In 2007 I’m looking forward to increase the sales even more.
What have been the keys in bringing your company to the present level?
Hard Work!
Has your age given you an advantage in getting where you are now?
My age have not given me advantages. I was 20 when I started this and not a living soul on this earth supported me. My father yelled at me to forget about the whole idea, a salesman at a big coffee company didn’t believe in me and ignored to send me the merchandise he promised to send. I can make the list a lot longer… But when I succeeded, people came to me with their wallets. They wanted to buy shares! My school wanted me to represent them by doing a presentation with another student in front of 700 people and be in a folder sent to new students. But there has been one advantage to being young and an entrepreneur: I see things from another perspective, I believe that older people see things from a more regular perspective. The world changes and the perspectives should change as well.
How do you keep yourself motivated to work hard and to get even better at what you do?
At first, when nobody believed in me, I knew that if I didn’t fulfil this project, I would regret it later in life. After I had fulfilled the project I looked for new opportunities to increase sales.
What are the most important lessons you have learned along the way?
That the limit of my success is depending on myself and my work, and I learned to stay focused and keep my vision in mind.
What are the most important lessons you have learned along the way?
The most important: Only dead fishes float along the stream! Work hard and believe in what you are doing.
What is your goal in life?
I want to be so wealthy I can walk into a store and buy what I need without the need of looking if I have enough money.
Who do you get support from?
I’m getting help from family. The inspiration’s coming from the fact that I have succeeded.
Who are your role-models?
I don’t have any.
How important do you consider networking to be?
Networking is very important. I am not in a big need of a network in my present business, but I will need a network in the future and I am networking by listening to people and talk to them.
Apart from running your business, are there any other things you’re passionate about?
Entrepreneurship.
What would you advise people who dream of doing what you do now?
Work hard.
Any websites/ books or other resources you can recommend beginners?
Good books are “The New Business Road Test” by Prentice Hall, “You’re Hired” by Bill Rancic, “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, by Kiyosaki.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I am going to start another company in 2007. Besides that I have a lot of ideas that I am doing some serious business planning about.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
I would like to get in contact with all kinds of inspiring people