15 Minutes with...Paul Oberschneider

Another of our 15 Minutes is focused on Paul Oberschneider. He's a shrewd and successful property entrepreneur. He's also a speaker and best-selling author. Catch him here on Twitter. For now, let's get our fifteen minutes...

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business, and how did you deal with it?

I guess one of the worst times was the Russian currency crisis or 'Asian Flu' as they called it. All the bank debt dried up and I was in the middle of a construction project trying to complete and meet targets for the large tenant we were building for. My partners in the US didn't want to keep their commitment and we were stuck. In the end, I managed to get the contractor to fund me a bridge and we were fine. But it was really touch and go.

What's the best thing about being an entrepreneur?

Having the freedom to set my own timetable and generally ignore others.

What's your elevator pitch?

I don't have one.

Which business quote has had the biggest influence on your career?

Well there are several but they all revolve around the same concept of 'Go big or go home'.

To what single personality trait do you attribute your success?

Persistence and self-belief.

How do you select employees? What process do you go through and what questions do you ask yourself?

I hire people I like and worry about the rest later.

What was your first ever business idea?

Putting a pull off top on plastic lids.

What is the weirdest (or bravest) marketing tactic you have used?

Monty Python men walking in stockings and suspenders with bowlers to attract attention to a new restaurant opening.

What is your favourite business book?

JC Penney's 50 Years of the Golden Rule.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

My father.

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