Victoria Vanstone, Internet Entrepreneur

Five Questions for
Victoria Vanstone of yourdeathwish.com

There is only one thing certain in life. And that's death. Internet entrepreneur, Victoria Vanstone, thinks we should therefore accept the inevitable and have a little fun doing so.

The 30 year old from Reading has launched yourdeathwish.com, a practical and upbeat way for you to create your perfect funeral, archive your life and be remembered on-line.

So what has she got to say for herself? Five Questions finds out.

1. Who is Victoria Vanstone?

I am just a normal girl with a good idea! I was working as a teacher in Thailand for four years, but always felt that I was not achieving my potential.

Although 'the hammock lifestyle' was appealing for a while, I think there comes a point when you have to prove to people that you can do more.

I have always been very independent and always full of business ideas.

2. Were you born to be an entrepreneur?

I have always found it hard to work for other people as I felt like I was making them money! Which is not very satisfying, especially when in the past I have worked for large corporate companies.

I have never felt comfortable with feeling like part of the rat race and have always wanted to stand out.

I think you have to be very strongwilled and really belive in yourself and your product to be able to achieve success.

I am a big believer in positive thinking and therefore believe that if you imagine success and feel like you are already a millionaire then it will (eventually) manifest.

3. What did it take to get yourdeathwish.com off the ground?

It took two years from my original ideas and drawings to get the website made.

There was a moment when it was an idea and then I had to make the decision to just 'go for it'.

I have raised money for investment from friends and family and continue to search for support from anyone who will help. I think it's really important to use your resorces and it is good to listen to advice from people in the business.

4. Best thing about building a business via the internet?

It is very flexible - I can work from anywhere in the world and it is good not having to deal with traffic in the morning, working from home (apart from web traffic!).

5. Top tips for someone wanting to start an internet business?

Believe in your product

Use your contacts

Give it a year

Don't keep throwing money at something if it's not working

7th February 2008

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Five Questions to find out what makes an internet entrepreneur tick?

Kieran Donoghue

"I believe some people have a little something in their head that makes them look at things in a slightly different way. Some people absolutely cannot envisage doing anything but working for somebody else - and that is fine. However I believe entrepreneurs are born and will always find a way to do things differently."
Kieron Donoghue,
ukoffer.com

Take one internet entrepreneur - for instance Kieron Donoghue (pictured above) - and ask them Five Questions.

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