Matura - Poziom rozszerzony 2007

Transkrypt do zadania 6

Interviewer: His feet are on the ground but his ambitions are sky high. In our studio, we have Martin Halstead, the entrepreneur who has just launched Britain's latest passenger airline Alpha One at the age of 18! Martin, what attracted you to starting a business so early in life instead of going to university?
Martin: I left school when I was accepted for pilot training. I always knew I wanted to become a pilot, so university was never really in my thoughts anyway. My first business, which designed and sold flight simulators came about by chance because I couldn't afford to fly. Then I started Alpha One because I was trying to work out the easiest way to get an airline job when I finished my flight training.
Interviewer: Have you faced many obstacles in setting up your airline?
Martin: Yes, at first it was very hard to be taken seriously. I remember in particular a meeting at Edinburgh Airport last year where I walked in and was pretty much asked if I was doing an A level or university project. Now, my boyish appearance doesn't really cause any problems at all. Age is just a number and people have to come round to realising that.
Interviewer: What sacrifices have you made in order to make your airline a success?
Martin: Financially everything I have is in this airline, which is not much. However, I stand to lose my money if it goes wrong. I had to restrict my personal life a bit as well. You have to be a lot more careful about what you say, which for someone with a loud mouth like myself, can be difficult! I have had to slow down dramatically with my flight training, which has been a big sacrifice for me. The whole reason for setting up this airline was so that I could do what I love most and fly every day.
Interviewer: What is your average day like?
Martin: My average day now starts at about 5.30 a.m. with maybe a TV or radio interview. Then I either head up to my office at Oxford Airport where I meet with our operations team and the airport management, or I travel around for more interviews and press conferences. I'm usually not done until about 8 p.m. By then I'm so tired, I just go home and crash into bed.
Interviewer: Are you constantly under pressure to perform?
Martin: The pressure is much greater than I ever expected it to be. Even when you're feeling ill, you still have to perform.
Interviewer: Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs?
Martin: Yes, find a dream and chase it no matter how difficult it gets. You know, every day brings a new challenge and a new knock back, but if you can overcome the bad days, of which there can be many and manage to keep your head then nothing and no one can stop you.
Adapted from: www.timesonline.co.uk