Entrepreneur Interview: Steve Silberberg of Fatpacking

Business Name:
Fatpacking

Website URL:
http://www.fatpacking.com

Year Founded:
2005

Number of Employees:
1 full time, 2 part time, 12 guides

What does your company do?
Fatpacking guides moderately overweight people on backpacking adventure vacations to get in shape and lose weight.

Was there a specific turning point when you realized your business was moving to the next level?

In the summer of 2009, we sold out almost all our trips.

What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?
The single most important item in growing the company is continual and never ending marketing.  There are virtually an unlimited number of other important items that could be largely ignored, but without the all-consuming devotion to marketing, it’s all moot.

What is most rewarding about running your business?
I get to spend all day in stunningly beautiful wilderness areas sharing the cameraderie of happy, unstressed people.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
When I started the business, for whatever reason a number of people tried to assert that the service was a ripoff.  They said it was far too expensive and nobody would lose any weight.

After 5 years, I now have statistics backing the assertion that backpacking really does improve body composition.  As for the expense, I point people to the sites of more established outfitters that sell somewhat comparable trips at twice the price.

If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
I would start younger.  I had a lot more energy in my 20s and 30s, even if I had less skill and life experience.

These days, I just don’t have the desire to go to yet another networking function even though I should.

What advice do you have for other business owners?
Don’t go into business for money alone.  Love what you do.  Do what you love.

I don’t like negativity, but statistically, there’s a reasonably good chance your business will fail.  Spend your days doing something you enjoy because ultimately, that’s all you may get out of your business.

Please list any favorite books, tools or resources (software, website, etc.) you would recommend for others:
I read a lot of adventure books, such as Into Thin Air because they are inspirational to me and germane to my line of work. Obviously, this is not going to help say, a catering business.

I do read business books on occasion, but my personal recommendation for being better in business (and in life) is How To Win Friends and Influence People.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have the largest Air Sickness Bag collection in the continental United States (there’s a larger one in Alaska).
http://www.airsicknessbags.com/

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m sexy?