Eric Durivault, founder and CEO of IDEAL Technologies speaks about his view on his work, the life of an entrepreneur, the joys and the hardships of owning a company and fulfilling his dreams.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
What has changed in the way you work? What are the difficulties you face?
"Just do it! A little action everyday is better than world wide, all-encompassing reflection upon your work and your life. You have to be cool, be nice. Clients live through your project, that's how they get energy from you, so you realize that they do business with you rather than someone else because they just like you as a person. Be the best in your field. You must be the reference in what you do and be proud of it. Always remember to make money. Drop anything that will not contribute to money making, even if it's a long and wonderful project that breaks your heart to stop trying to make it real."
What advice would you give to people who want to be entrepreneurs?
"With the capital you have, use 10% for a coach who will follow you every other month; a three hour review of your work, your methods and your business is necessary."
What are the most important qualities to being an entrepreneur?
"Good health is key! The capacity to be able to look ahead, every single day, one month and five years ahead is also essential. Also, make sure you can define your project in one sentence. If you cannot, your project is too complicated."
Views of the Future from Ideal Technologies CEO
What are your views and hopes for the future of business, economy and finance?
"There are still so many things to invent, share, sell and make money with. People are changing everyday, and so they change their social environment and their cultural practices. if we look, let's say, three years from now, we can see all these things coming towards us. It gives me a lot of hope. It's all very exciting."
You work in the field of environmental issues and heavy industry. What are your views about the changing face of industry now that ecological issues have become an essential subject in our culture?
"The worlds of telecommunications and banking are merging fast; you can now pay with your telephone from the Alsace region of France. It's the same with the worlds of production, energy and waste; it will all become one huge thing, as a unit or a whole. Waste to energy will be, is already, the ratio of production. You will use your waste to produce your energy, so that you can be strong in producing. Anything and everything. It's happening now."
IDEAL Technologies in Brief
- Created in 2003 by Eric Durivault
- Activity: The conception and commercialisation of products to empty, dry and treat all industrial waste.
- Number of people in the company: 2 persons (all fabrication and maintenance externalised)
- Turnover : 610 000 € in 2008, 1 M € en 2009 (prevision)
- References : Materne, Glaxosmithkline, Danone, Nestlé, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Senoble, Andros, Haagen Dazs, Hilton, l’Oreal, Ford, British American Tobacco….
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