Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael Silva, Co-Founder of Team Silva Enterprises LLC., located in Kendall Park, NJ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is the development, production, and sale of my invention called QB54. QB54 is an entire game of football built from 2 folding chairs. QB54 is perfect for the beach, the backyard, tailgating, camping, etc. It is the only football game on the market, and our customers are rabid about it. Our customers are individuals that love to have fun outdoors, love to be active, and love to compete. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, male or female, everyone loves QB54.

Tell us about yourself

QB54 was inspired by a game that my brother and I created as kids growing up. It occurred during Thanksgiving back in the 80s when my brother and I wanted to play football, but all of our friends were out of town. How do you play football with just two people? So we got two garbage cans and used the CB antennae on the back of my dad's pickup truck. We would take turns throwing the football into the garbage can, and when we did, that was a touchdown. After the touchdown, we kicked the extra point through the antennae on the back of my dad's truck. We were obsessed with the game and decided to turn it into a business many years later. My family motivates me every day. I have two kids, and I want to show them that if you have a dream and if you work hard toward your goal, absolutely anything is possible. Also, another major motivator is to bring people together during these tough times. There is a lot of division and negativity going around, and if QB54 can bring people together having fun for a couple of hours, then the journey is worth it!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my biggest accomplishments as a business owner was actually having the guts and determination to go after it! How many times did you have an idea and think this would be an awesome product? Or watching Shark Tank and saying, "I can do that." Everyone has ideas and dreams, but it takes a lot of grit and determination to go after them. There is a saying, "The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately." That is 100% true. It's a daily grind, and it's not for everyone. There have been numerous challenging times where you ask yourself, "Is this worth all the aggravation?" There are a lot of self-doubts, the cards are stacked against you, and ultimately the odds of succeeding are not in your favor.

So why do it? I did it because I believed in myself, I believed in the product, and I have an amazing family that has supported me every step of the way. The journey that we as a family has taken has been priceless, we all learned a lot, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. My biggest accomplishment was getting over the fear, not caring what other people thought of me and my idea, and going after the dream of being an entrepreneur.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things is making decisions that are best for the business. You may develop friendships over time dealing with other suppliers and vendors. However, you may find other vendors or suppliers that provide a better product and quality at a better price which is ultimately better for your business. At this point, there is a difficult decision and call to make, and as a business owner, you need to make these difficult calls yourself because, at the end of the day, the buck stops with you. Be true to yourself and your business, and everything will fall into place.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. You have to believe in yourself and your product/business.
  2. Every day, you have to ask yourself the question, "What did I do to move the needle today?" - meaning, what have you done to move your business forward? These don't have to be major items. It doesn't matter how small the task is; they add up and add tremendous value down the road.
  3. Never get too high and never get too low - stay in the middle. You will have good days and bad, it's inevitable. It's important to realize early in the game and if you stay even keel, then you have a much better chance at success in the long term. Good things take time and hard work, it's a marathon, not a sprint, and I am learning this every day!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://playqb54.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlayQB54/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playqb54/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/playqb54
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-silva-7030318/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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