Part two of our small business interviews focuses on another well known name in the Solidworks community. Devon Sowell of 3-D Design Solutions provides his customers full service mechanical design and drafting services, along with Solidworks consulting, training, and teaching including PDMWorks, and Enterprise Implementation. Devon also provides custom programming services using Visual Basic.NET, and can also support Agile PLM services.
Devon is a very energetic person, and is always a pleasure to meet and speak with. You can find him Solidworks World, and some local events giving presentations of different caliber, covering different topics. To reach Devon, click to one of the links above. Here is the transcript of Devon's interview:
1. What was the biggest determining factor that drove you to finally venture out on your own, and start a company? I’ve been self-employed most of my life. My Parents were also self-employed most of the time.
2. Did you always want to have your own CAD business? Yes, see question 1.
3. What was the most difficult part of getting your business going? Choosing which CAD software to buy.
4. If you could give one piece of advice to someone contemplating making the same move you did, what would that be? Only one piece of advice? Take classes in Small Business Management, Accounting, and Investing; hire a good Financial Planner & Accountant; Save for retirement; purchase Errors and Omissions and General Liability Insurance; pay all Taxes on time; keep up with new methods and technology, Network often; remember 95% of all new businesses fail, it’s OK to fail, as long as you learn from your mistakes. That’s more than one!
5. Did your involvement in the Solidworks Community help lead you to decide to start your own company? When I started, there was no SolidWorks Community that I was aware of. It has come on strong during the past 4 years or so.
6. Has knowing Solidworks as opposed to other CAD packages helped with generating new business, and keeping others? Yes, it has.
7. Does the Solidworks software package make it easier or more difficult to be successful? It’s not about the software; it’s about providing a service and keeping the customer happy.
8. Finally, knowing what you know now, would you still undertake going out on your own? Yes, of course. Being self-employed is more difficult than having a salary position, I work longer hours and put in a tremendous effort, but I love it!
The third and final part of the small business interviews will conclude next week with another Solidworks "Chump", stay tuned.
Hi Mike-
Thanks for the interview.
I forgot to mention my Wife is self-employed too. Another thing I forgot, how could I?, is the huge expense of Medical Insurance for our family.
Next week, look for an interview of Mike on my blog. Mike's an interesting guy!
Cheers,
Devon
Posted by: Devon T. Sowell | February 22, 2008 at 01:43 PM