There are three criteria I use to measure ideas: Simplicity, Speed and Security.
Michael Asare is a seasoned manager with over eighteen years of experience delivering successful revenue enabling solutions. He is the Founder & CEO of Fineprintf Technologies Inc. -FeeBelly. FeeBelly is the best solution to finding hidden fees and costly details buried in financial agreements.
It is a new innovative app that is set to launch in January 2017 that will be accessible through the Apple store. Michael is entrepreneurial, hands-on, and forward-thinking with an exceptional record of providing leadership and execution. Michael has led teams to excellent levels of efficiency, growth and customer satisfaction. He has a solid understanding of business, service strategies, architecture, infrastructure, project management, and ITIL concepts. Michael has demonstrated commitment to the constant learning and the use of emerging technologies to serve and support business growth.
Where did the idea for FeeBelly come from?
I got approved for a loan and was ready to pay off loan before the maturity date, but I found out there is a prepayment penalty on loan payoff. At that time, I didn’t read the fine print because I thought loan officer, a friend, was looking out for me and besides the loan documentation was overwhelming. There, I thought if I had a tool on my cellphone that can do the due diligence for me at the time, it could have saved me time and money.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I like structure, so I typically get a list of what I need to do for the day before and follow that routine religiously. Some of the tasks go like this: Check emails, return voicemails, get a cup of tea, understand customers concerns, investigate what is trending in technology, investigate what is trending in promoting FeeBelly and brainstorm trending technology on FeeBelly. These pretty much takes much of my time on any given day.
However, there are days which are not so routine and have to reshuffle the deck to be productive. So I prioritize by asking myself the impact of these new tasks to the goal of promoting FeeBelly as the fine print detective of choice, and then I decide and move on.
How do you bring ideas to life?
There are three criteria I use to measure ideas: Simplicity, Speed and Security.
Simplicity: So customers can understand what is going on in simple easy terms. Speed: Makes customers productive so they can have extra time to do other stuff. Security: Provides customers a peace of mind which makes them emotionally attached.
Then I put the right team together, who buys into above principles, to bring idea to life.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Sensor Networking. This to me is what absolute control is all about. So many sensors already out there, it’s only a matter of time when they become connected like how social media revolutionized human connectivity. Look at what drones are doing now and this is just a taste of what is to come.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Don’t stop learning something new every day. I love to keep feeding my curiosity by searching for ways to learn new things. Either by reading up on them or talking with people with new ways of doing things.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Door-to-door campaign solicitor. I had to go door-to-door to ask people to sign up for a political cause. It was challenging and interesting.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Every decision I make must fit in this context: Customer, Competition and Company. That is, what is the impact of my decision on these three tenets of the organization.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Putting the right people in the right positions with the right training. The three “R’s.” Because with the right team, doing the right tasks, all things are possible. With the wrong team a lot could go wrong.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Started a business several years back but did not give it enough time to take off and during that time one of my customers made me an offer to work for them which I did and later regretted. I then started FeeBelly!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Gave $100 to a youth baseball team. It made me feel better and could see how much the kids appreciated. I got a nice team shirt from the youth later on when the team made it to the nationals. Which I used as a pajamas top, to date. I cherish that gift as it means something special to me.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“Here I Stand” by Paul Robeson. It shows the determination of the human spirit and it’s indomitable will to fight on whatever the circumstances at hand.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Paul Robeson
What is your favorite quote?
“My Future depends mostly upon myself.” by Paul Robeson
Connect:
FeeBelly on Instagram: feebelly_app
FeeBelly on Twitter: @feebelly
FeeBelly on Facebook: feebellyapp
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.