English 
Română 
Talking with Carmen (Conacul Maria Theresa)
INTRODUCTION
I firmly believe that whatever hardships we go through, on our journey, help us, whether we like it or not, to take an honest look at the person within. On my journey, I met an entrepreneur who left me speechless. Through her way of being, Carmen – the owner of Conacul Maria Theresa, gave me inspiration – to work for my dream, even if it takes years to achieve it, together with my family.
I met a confident woman, who answered my every question in such a natural way that the interview became a conversation and the conclusions came naturally.
What should you know about Conacul Maria Theresa?
I postponed publishing the interview because I wanted to see Conacul for myself. Not just because I saw great pictures or talked to people who had been there, but because I wanted to have an experience like no other in Romania. I met the woman behind the business, which made me all the more curious about the result of the work she put into building the brand that has evolved continuously in the 3 years since Maria Theresa Mansion opened its doors.
Carmen Siminie, together with her husband – Dan Siminie, are the entrepreneurs behind the family business – for families, a hostel in the hospitality field, where every little thing and work of art has a pre-established, well thought out place (the construction took 7 years). We’re talking about an area covering one and a half hectares, with a built area of around 5000 m2.
Here, you can enjoy:
* Weddings at Conacul Maria Theresa
* Weddings by the lake
* Cocktail parties
* Company parties
* Family parties and many other types of events.
Let’s get to the interview!
What does Carmen think about entrepreneurship?
Manu: How did you decide to start this business?
Carmen: I have 25 years of professional experience in various fields. I worked as a clothing and interior designer for 15 years, at a shop, while taking care of other projects, at the same time. As an entrepreneur, I started because of design. The private environment and the business itself, help you grow in many areas. The business we have at the moment started from a dream – to keep our family close, to be united, to work together. We’ve gone from a small project to something gigantic, which will grow more and more in the coming years.
M: Did you ever think about giving up?
C: No. I’m ambitious and I couldn’t give it up. If I had to, I would have one big regret. Yes, there are many impediments, but you have to look for solutions. That’s why you’re an entrepreneur after all. You have to solve them.
M: What is the biggest challenge you face, as an entrepreneur, in your field?
C: Bureaucracy. There is a lot that needs to be sorted out and I think the state should support tourism and its promotion more, domestically and internationally. We are totally lacking infrastructure and state support for tourism and HoReCa.
M: What do you do on days when you can’t find the motivation for the work you have to do (to keep your business afloat and help it grow)?
C: I rest. I work around 16 hours a day. As a creator, the mind is always working, even if I cut back on work. A creator – creates all the time, because he was born that way – whether he’s making clothes or building a business.
M: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned since you started your own business?
C: I would have an entire list (laughs). When you’re an entrepreneur and you make decisions, sometimes you consider them mistakes. But even though I was put in that position, I considered them lessons. So in the end, the mistake turned out not to be a mistake.
M: What do you consider to be the most notable difference between being an employee or an entrepreneur?
C: People working for an employer should also understand the employer’s perspective and engage with the employer to help and build the business in the long term. If he wants that job and has chosen to do that job, I would want him to be very involved so that together, we can develop the hospitality system to the best of our ability – to provide quality services and the most positive customer experience, starting from behavior, service, attitude, etc.
M: How would you characterize your business – Conacul Maria Theresa, in a word (except “quality”)?
C: Growth.
M: What would you advise an entrepreneur who is just starting out?
C: To those who are just starting out, think very carefully about what you want and don’t give up. No matter what obstacles or problems you encounter, get up the next morning, have a coffee and get to work. It’s very important to be motivated to get where you want to go. Motivation only comes from you, not from outside. Don’t expect others to come and support you. You need to work with yourself on the business side. You can talk to others in private. But on the business side, only you can help yourself. It’s important to be dedicated and honest. If you’re honest with yourself, you’re honest with others.
MY CONCLUSION – Support Small Businesses
Throughout the interview, I looked at the owner of Conacul Maria Theresa, the entrepreneur in front of me with sincere admiration. I realized that we are experts at finding excuses and other culprits when things don’t go our way. The truth is that only you can stand in your own way or propel yourself to the next level, no matter what obstacles you face. If you have a dream, and you’ve decided it’s worth doing whatever it takes to make it happen, I’d like to share a perspective that helps me move through negative experiences more easily: happiness isn’t felt when you don’t have problems, it’s experienced to the fullest when you solve problems!
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