Interview With Entrepreneur Ami Steinberger Founder of Ulpan La-Inyan

Today I am interviewing entrepreneur Ami Steinberger, founder of Ulpan La-Inyan The rising star in the Hebrew teaching industry!

1) How did you get started in your business?

A few ways:

1. I always wanted to work independently – I don’t do so well working for other people, and when this past summer things came to a boiling point, I decided to go for it. I tried a few projects before this one, but didn’t connect to them enough to really follow through all the way.

2. I really connect to this project. One of the main obstacles standing in the way of people making aliyah to Israel is the language barrier. Ulpan La-Inyan seeks to remove that barrier. So I see this project as supportive of Jews who wish to make a successful aliyah, or otherwise connect more happily to the Jewish people and Israel (Jews as well as non-Jews).

3. Learning languages has always been a hobby – so I said, Why not teach one?

2)What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting out today?

1. Do what you love and settle for nothing less.

2. Be prepared for work, and when you work, do so intelligently. Make yourself a schedule and stick to it (with flexibility), take breaks, eat and sleep enough but not too much, etc.

3. Trust in G-d and do the right thing.

3)What outsiders here in Israel have been most important to your business? (e.g., bankers, accountants, investors, customers, suppliers, mentors, etc.) and can you recommend anyone?

I’ve gotten the most useful feedback from my students – sometimes what they said and how they said it was painful to hear, but they really pushed me to produce a higher and higher quality product.

4)What sources of information such as books, seminars, cd’s, etc.. Can you recommend for other starting entrepreneurs?

I don’t do books and stuff about business. The best books I can recommend for inspiration are those of the Mussar movement (for personal and work ethic), Loving What Is by Byron Katie (how to live forgivingly and not let things get to you), and, for men, The Way of the Superior Man (for inspiration to fulfill your dreams at almost all costs).