Deciding to launch a small business is one move requiring confidence, energy and, of course, capital. So what is it that the people willing to take that leap have in common?

At the start of the second day of the QuickBooks Connect 2016 event, John Walls (@JohnWalls21) and Jeff Frick (@JeffFrick), co-hosts of theCUBE*, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, sat down to review the first day’s major points and examine what the second had in store.

People and passion

As with the first day, the hosts were impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the people attending the event, as well as the friendliness everyone seemed to share in working to improve their businesses.

“There’s a bunch of people from all walks of life … that are here learning to run their business,” Frick noted. “It is really a small business show, and that’s what gives it its positive vibe.”

And the vibe is one that resonates with speakers and guests alike, a shared quality that Frick attributed to genuine investment in what they were doing, beyond a financial level.

“Over and over, most people start small businesses because they’re passionate about something,” he said. Walls agreed, adding, “This wide breadth of personal purpose, cause and mission makes it an interesting thing.”

Gigs and growth

As the conversation continued, the role of self-employment arose, with both hosts feeling the trend is contributing to modern entrepreneurship and small businesses.

“I think it’s interesting times for the government as well to keep up with this change,” Frick stated, referring to the rising interest in “gig” jobs, such as Uber.

And one of the natural things to consider when focusing on self-employment is the role played by risk. As Frick noted, building from failures through “compensation learning” had been a “key point” in author Malcolm Gladwell’s keynote speech the previous day and during his interview with theCUBE.

Another interviewee, Intuit Inc. Founder Scott Cook, had also been interviewed on theCUBE, and he had left quite an impression on the hosts. “When you get to the guys and the women at the top, usually they’re very forthcoming with advice,” Frick said, touching on how Cook had upheld this tradition.

And for Walls, getting those more personal peeks into what drove the entrepreneurs attending QuickBooks Connect was one of the most stimulating parts of the conference. “It’s those kinds of messages that are inspiring, not someone talking about this tool or this resource. … The real-life stories — that’s what I find most attractive,” he said.

Frick agreed, noting, “At the end of the day, the attendees are people, and the speakers are people … making a person-to-person connection.”

Watch the complete video interview, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of QuickBooks Connect.

*Disclosure: Intuit and other companies sponsor some Quickbooks Connect segments on SiliconANGLE Media’s theCUBE. Neither Intuit nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.

Photo by SiliconANGLE