“I love the entire experience behind discovering a need and then figuring out a way to build a business around filling that need.”

Darrell Henley has over 20 years’ worth of experience in successfully starting and growing businesses in a variety of industries, such as Internet marketing and travel. Darrell is passionate about every company he decides to invest in, and he works closely with his various business partners to develop each company’s highest potential. Darrell is extremely dedicated to his work, but he is even more dedicated to his family.

BusinessInterviews.com: What inspired you to be an entrepreneur and start your own businesses?

Darrell: I began working for myself as a small child. While other children were coloring on walls, I was trying to figure out a way to sell them magic markers. I remember once asking my mother if she thought my coloring book would be worth more if it was colored in crayons or watercolor.

I was the kid at school who was always selling stuff to other kids. I’d try to be observant, identify a need, and then do my best to fill it. When selling pencils, I’d try out several different styles, colors, and price points until I identified the products that allowed me to maximize profit. I love the entire experience behind discovering a need and then figuring out a way to build a business around filling that need. It brings me great personal satisfaction.

BusinessInterviews.com: What are the main qualities you look for in a company you’re deciding to invest in?

Darrell: I would never invest my time or money in a company I’m not personally passionate about. I get excited when a company fills a need in a unique way. The company must be creative, innovative, and efficient. Most importantly, the people I partner with must be intelligent, decisive, and open-minded, and they must have a high propensity for change.

BusinessInterviews.com: What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner, and how have you met that challenge?

Darrell: The successful entrepreneurs I know all eat, sleep, and dream their businesses. They view challenges as opportunities and derive great personal fulfillment from every improvement they make. Unfortunately, this level of devotion can easily consume all of your time. I, personally, find myself struggling occasionally to maintain a healthy balance in regards to my time. Quitting work and going home at a specific time each day is a foreign concept to me. Thus, I work diligently to make sure I’m spending adequate time with my family in activities that are unrelated to any of my business endeavors.

BusinessInterviews.com: What is something that you wish someone had told you before you started your first business?

Darrell: I’m the type of person who has to see something in order to believe it. I keep an open mind and love to learn. Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered what someone had told me — I wouldn’t have believed them until I experienced it myself, anyway. I believe that everyone is responsible for their own decisions, failures, and successes. Excuses are for people who are unable to get results. You’ll never hear me say, “If only someone had told me ….”

BusinessInterviews.com: Rumor has it you really enjoy writing. Where does that passion come from, and how do you use writing to help grow your business?

Darrell: That rumor’s not exactly true! I wouldn’t say that I actually enjoy writing, but I do love reading. In school, when I wasn’t selling candy to my classmates, I had my face buried in a book. From an early age, I appreciated how a writer could fill me with anger or make me laugh. There’s so much power in the written word!

I decided, long ago, to try to become a proficient writer. Proficiency, to me, is the ability to convey emotion to your reader. In the electronic world we live in, writing is more important than ever. I communicate more for business via email and text messages than by telephone. I try to use writing as a means to not just communicate my thoughts, but to convey my feelings about whatever I’m writing about. It also allows me to put a personal element into what could be, otherwise, a rather detached form of communication.

BusinessInterviews.com: What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for you, personally or professionally?

Darrell: I’m currently involved in several projects in various stages of development. Each of these projects and businesses have a tremendous amount of opportunity. Some people are hesitant to invest in their companies right now because of the general softness we’ve experienced in the economy the last few years. However, I’m seeing more opportunities than ever before. Consumers will continue to have needs, and there will always be successful entrepreneurs figuring out innovative and exciting ways to fill those needs. I really think it’s an absolutely great time to be an entrepreneur.