Pharmpreneur of the week Andrew Hanna: ‘I love the adrenaline rush of something new.’

SnapshotEducation: BSc., Laurentian UniversityRole: expert compounding pharmacist What excites you about being an entrepreneur?As a compounding pharmacist: in one word – limitless. The sky is truly the limit, the excitement and challenges that arise with it daily.…No not daily but hourly and that means everything from networking to compounding relationships. Taking this stroll on the yellow brick road allows you to think outside the box, become creative, be that creative artist and social solution. But in a nutshell, the opportunity to work with others globally on compounded products, formulas and learning while picking up new skills and talent really excites me.How has your entrepreneurial career evolved since your graduation?Since graduating pharmacy school, I have been exposed to limitless opportunities. I initially started at corporate stores holding various positions from staff pharmacist to manager to national compliance director. One of the coolest positions, which was an absolute privilege, was working for the Ontario College of Pharmacists. I say this because it is the missing piece to the puzzle after graduation. Pharmacy school teaches you how to become a pharmacist, things you should know, things you need to know and tries its best to prepare you for the real world; but being on the other side of the bench you get to learn and see what happens behind the scenes.That was the coolest position of my career up until that point AND THEN I became a business owner. This part of my career started off as one store, which grew to a total of six, which gave me the opportunity utilize my critical thinking and creativity and become a compounding pharmacy. This then allowed me to work with NHL teams, world-renowned dermatologists like Dr. Jerry Shapiro of New York City, who's helped me and has been my mentor, along with Dr. Howard Yanofsky, in the process of drug design and developing a patent-pending formula recognized in the US and Canada. I have a patent-pending formula for alopecia areata and vitiligo.What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?This is one of many questions I ask myself on daily basis: what is that drive? Where does that drive come from? I love the adrenaline rush of something new and the care we are able to provide for our patients.How do you define success?While for some this might be a simple question it is one of the hardest questions for me to answer. Success for me is measured by self-discipline, continuously self-conditioning and always climbing to the top of an endless path. That path may feel like you're still at the very bottom but that's how it should be to strive for your goals. Success is so hard because it's not something where you reach a plateau and stop, it's something you work towards, it's a goal that you set for yourself that is almost impossible to achieve and that final achievement is the ultimate success. Overcoming failure after many attempts is a great success. Failure is a success in progress and as we continue to progress, we will continue to be failing. Failure prompts us to make important changes in our lives and our businesses.As a successful entrepreneur, what continues to drive you?I don't consider myself a successful entrepreneur (yet) but an experienced one. And what continues to drive me is the self-awareness, the mental conditioning of wanting to be a successful entrepreneur delivering that positive experience to your patients and you. Hopefully one day I will be successful.What are the biggest challenges to being an entrepreneur?As a compounding pharmacist, my biggest challenge is discovering new formulas for certain conditions. I am always looking at ways to continue to be innovative or redefine innovation to create something that is out of this world.How do you manage work/life balance?This has taken me a good 10 years into my career to really understand. While it's never too late to change and realize that you can't be engulfed in work, this 50-50 lifestyle balance is very important and it's the simple things in life. Do what you enjoy the most. Travel the world: there's so much in this world that experiencing it adds value to what you bring to your discipline. Take the time to hang out with your friends and loved ones. We are on this earth for a very short period of time so it's important to cherish that moment with those around you. A friend once told me: “Andy, take a break from work.... Look up and see the sky. Will it ever fall? The sky isn't going to fall if you take a break.” What books/resources do you recommend for every entrepreneur to check out?While I am not a big reader of books, the one that really did it for me was:43 Lessons for Business & Life by Warren Buffett. Also, The intelligent Investor by Warren Buffett.What advice would you give to colleagues who want to become entrepreneurs?Follow your dreams, and now is the right time. The second you think of becoming that entrepreneur the wheels start turning, the bearings are now oiled, so don't let anything hold you back. Find a mentor who will bring out the best qualities and who wants to see you be successful.LinkedIn: @SherifGuorguiInstagram: @SherifGuorguiFacebook: @Sherif Seif GuorguiTwitter: @Sherif_Guorgui

Pharmpreneur of the week Andrew Hanna: ‘I love the adrenaline rush of something new.’

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