Berkeley College welcomed Peter Stavrianidis, Ph.D., a successful entrepreneur and fourth-generation family business owner of Venus Jewelers, to its Woodland Park, NJ, campus as part of an ongoing MBA Executive Speaker Series on July 12, 2016. During his presentation, Dr. Stavrianidis spoke to graduate students enrolled in the Berkeley College MBA in Management program and undergraduate students enrolled in an Entrepreneurship course about the key elements required to succeed in any entrepreneurial endeavor, including interviewing and working for an employer other than yourself.
“Money is a symptom of success,” Dr. Stavrianidis said. “It requires enthusiasm, energy, and service … with these your team will win, your organization will prosper, and you will be elevated to a higher degree of influence.”
Dr. Stavrianidis, with more than 30 years of business experience, said that only in the past 10 to 15 years, after becoming diligent in studied and learned principles from hundreds of successful and failed business experiences, has he become successful.
According to Dr. Stavrianidis and the results of his studies, three things really count in an interview – first, vocabulary or information, your ability to articulate, listen and communicate; second, your tone of voice; and third, your body language. Of these, the last counts most. Body language is more important than content, he said.
Dr. Stavrianidis told the audience, “You are judged by how you show up, the way you dress, and the way you speak. First impressions are important. Perception is reality.” He added that one’s level of energy, knowledge of a company and its culture (if you are interviewing), product and services, and ‘bedside’ manner are all important.
“Follow up and thank them whether or not you get the position or make the sale,” he said.
In addition to advising about how to make a successful first impression, Dr. Stavrianidis distinguished leadership as necessary to be a successful entrepreneur. While he acknowledged that some people are natural-born leaders, he believes some leadership skills are able to be learned. However, he said that 90 percent of people are unwilling to learn. They are not committed enough as it takes discipline, dedication, passion and vision. That leaves less than 10% who represent the competition for successful entrepreneurial leadership positions and become tomorrow’s business and community leaders. This is why most businesses do not make it past five years.
Networking is essential for entrepreneurial success, and Dr. Stavrianidis cited giving as its most essential component.
“By giving you think big and as a result, big things happen,” he said.
In order to succeed and grow, every individual should have a system – a repeatable process that produces a profit. “Systems permit ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results,” said Dr. Stavrianidis. Not having a system that can always be improved is why most business fail, he said.
Dr. Stavrianidis continued the dialogue, speaking about spheres of influence. “Create impact so somebody knows you. They must also like you and trust you,” he said. He also advised the audience members to increase their energy. “In order to be successful you have to have the energy, socially, professionally, spiritually.”
Seven Steps to Successful Networking according to Peter Stavrianidis, PhD, Educator and Entrepreneur
1) Dress for the occasion.
2) Approach your prospect with authenticity and genuine care.
3) Ask about their success; for their card; for permission to keep in touch. Only speak 20 percent of the time and offer your card only upon request.
4) Spot and approach spheres of influence.
5) Detachment – do not be attached to the result or take it personally.
6) Network all the time – it is a way of life.
7) Make someone know you, like you and trust you – people will remember you and refer other people to you.
8) The formula for your elevator speech or selling proposition in 30 or 40 seconds contains who you are, what you do, and why you do what you do.
A leader in providing career-focused education since 1931, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls approximately 8,300 students – including more than 700 international students – in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree and Certificate programs. Students can study in more than 20 career fields. Berkeley College is comprised of the Larry L. Luing School of Business®, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Health Studies and the School of Liberal Arts. The School of Graduate Studies offers a Master of Business Administration degree in Management online and in Woodland Park, NJ.
Berkeley College has five New Jersey campuses – Dover, Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park. In New York there are three campuses – Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and White Plains. Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, both for the third consecutive year. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.
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Photo Caption 1: Peter Stavrianidis, PhD, educator and owner of Venus Jewelers in Somerset, NJ, addresses Berkeley College graduate and undergraduate students about what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur at the MBA Executive Speakers Series on July 12, 2016, in Woodland Park, NJ.
