SHARON WESHLER * Entrepreneur / Investor * Tel Aviv, Israel * Staying Positive in Business * Interview by Karla Darocas

[Karla Darocas *New Frontier]

Trying to stay "positive" in mind and heart during a recession isn't easy for
entrepreneurs. High-tech entrepreneur, investor and deal-maker, Sharon Weshler has a few ideas on staying and being positive and the effects on sales and business.

Sharon Weshler is Yozmot, a business that establishes and runs zero-stage,
technology-based, pre-seed start up companies that develop innovative products. Since their inception, they have managed projects in a variety of technological fields, which include acoustics, biotechnology, chemistry, electronics, food engineering, mechanical engineering, medical devices, optics and rehabilitation.

BRIEF PROFILE
Name: Sharon Weshler
Nationality: Israeli
Current Living / Working Location/s: Lev Hasharon - a green subberb of Tel Aviv
Type of Enterprises: Weshler run an Israeli investment banking firm, an
International Business Development unit for Israeli technology companies and an active Angel Club. He is director of Business development at www.yozmot.org ,
partner in www.global-marketeam.com, owner of http://israeltechnology.ning.com

Years in Operation: Since mid 2005
Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur, deal-maker, educator, investor – all of the above?
I have invested in a few technology startup companies. I have secured nearly two dozen investment deals where I was the deal maker and broker. I run online web seminars on social business networking tools with my partner Sarit Pery. We had hundreds of people on our May 7th Web seminar. I even have a few ventures that are partly based on my ideas that are coming alive these days with my
entrepreneur's hat.


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS


Q* With this economic recession in full force, how are you staying positivity in your business life? Any tips to staying in a positive frame of mind?

A* The Israeli investment market, in fact any market, has its ups and downs. The last major crisis was at 2000 when the market crashed as a result of the Dot.Com bubble. The people quickly picked up the pieces and the Israeli Hi-tech industry completely stepped out of these bad times and grew even more in the years to follow.

This crisis that we are in the middle of these days, is bigger and harder no doubt, yet we all need to keep our heads above the water and go through these rough times knowing it will be over soon, probably around mid to end of 2010.

I'm an optimistic who believes that it is all about dedication and believing in the cause or the target one has and to keep following your plans and dreams and all will be good as the , market always get fluctuations. This is what it’s all about; opportunities for new people to enter and others to leave this train of opportunities, making sure you keep picking the best stops to climb on or off of – and as much as you can.


Q* In your life – would you say that a positive attitude is something that you inherit from your family and social environment, or would you say that we all choose to have a positive outlook?

A* I believe in both positions. I grew up with a positive attitude at home. Me and my brothers were taught the hard lessons in real life in a good manner. We were encouraged to try new things, learn new tools, and find new opportunities.
We have all made it and become clean and honest businessmen, building healthy families and working hard to achieve our goals in life.

Some would say it has also to do with the social environment too, and I admit I grew up in a good neighborhood and went to good schools , yet ANYONE, given even the basic tools and environment can strive to achieve goals. They can set out to use their heads and friends and family and any possible resource they can get their hands on. There are plently resources on the web today to make it work.

On another note, I’m a firm believer in Social Business Networking and I built a toolbar for my May 7th web seminar with amazing Sarit Pery who is a powerful open networker herself. She is well worth an interview herself!

Anyone is welcome to download on http://workshopexpertsperyweshler.ourtoolbar.com , in it you have links to all major online business tools and social business networks. The non Israeli readers can discard the Israeli links in it and use the rest.


Q* Do you believe that being positive in your business life can also get you into trouble? And if so – how many mistakes does it take to know that being positive may not be working?

A* Positive always works, make no mistake about it! I admit that sometimes, I was too positive and deals or contacts failed, which caused me a waster of precious time and some expenses. Yes, out of every "wasted" deal, I acquired new contacts, new leads, new opportunities.

I ALWAYS look at the full half of the glass and I don't let myself down for deals gone bad or time wasted. It is all for the best and you can learn from each experience, good or bad and you can gain more business knowhow. You can know in a bad situation, how to avoid the next one. If you make sure not to repeat mistakes you can sometimes benefit more from a bad deal that a good one, at least I have.

Q* When working on a business project, does it upset you when a member of your team or business associates is not positive and as a result you start to feel that the project is somehow more negative?

A* It did happen in a few occasions. My role is to move forward in life as much as I can. I will let no one stop me. If a team member isn’t positive it’s “his/her thing” - not mine. There is no room in today's fast paced life and especially the business atmosphere to stop and think negative. Don’t let just anyone on your team. Don’t let anyone upset you. Make sure to keep an open mind. Try to think outside the box and always, always keep positive thoughts in anything you do! My 2 cents...

Q* How does being positive affect the sales process? Can you give a few examples?

A* There is a saying in TeleSales training that goes, “keep smiling when you call clients, and they will "hear" your smile.” This is so true. I have always kept a positive attitude in life and business life and it surely affected numerous sale process interactions.

I am involved in the “people do business with people" process. It is always more fun and can be translated into more deals and a snoother sales process, when you a keep positive attitude.
Be optimistic!
Smile as much as you can and go though this life journey as a happier man or woman. Life is great!