You'll never work harder, and you'll never find more fulfilling work. Although starting his own business was not uppermost in his mind when he was at Fuqua, Mullins always had thoughts about what it would be like to go it on his own. No MBA program can teach you the spirit of entrepreneurism, he believes, but a good program can teach students to think outside the box-a trait necessary to create innovative businesses. For him, being a business owner has led to unexpected opportunities. Recently appointed to the Commission on Small Business by President Clinton, Mullins has met with the President twice in the past year.
Some entrepreneurs decide to work for an established company while learning the ropes.
That was the path chosen by David Crittenden '81. If your idea is to start Federal Express and you have the money to do it, go for it. Otherwise, it pays to start out with an established firm. After graduating from Fuqua, he still was not ready to start his own business. In 1993, he made his move.