This article discusses the results of the poll of small and medium Russian entrepreneurs taken in 2014. Our study revealed the maturity and responsibility of businessmen that allow them to overcome economic crises. As the analysis showed, the term “business” still encounters a cautious attitude in the Russian society and even among entrepreneurs themselves, although 47 % of respondents witnessed the improvement of the social attitude towards business.This study discloses the following aspects of the modern Russian business: goals and motives of entrepreneurs, what exactly makes them happy in business, social responsibility of the small and medium businesses, attitudes of entrepreneurs towards their rivals, applicable ethical aspects in Russia, innovations in entrepreneurship, business planning, the relationships of business and the government, difficulties in business activity and the main resources of the modern business. Moreover, the respondents formulated some recommendations for beginner entrepreneurs.The survey was carried out using three methods: an oral interview of the respondents (structured interviews), a written survey and literary review of Russian and English-language sources.The scientific contribution of the article is the determination of the factors of high satisfaction of Russian entrepreneurs with their occupation (revealing of the reasons for happiness/joy in business), clarification of ethical principles of the Russian business in the modern conditions, explanation of the innovative process in the Russian small and medium business and establishing of the dependence of the CSR development level in the small and medium business on the business experience of a company’s owner.To publish the complete research results in one journal, the article was divided into three parts. This issue publishes the first part containing the literary review, the methodology of the survey and the analysis of the respondents’ answers concerning the social attitude towards business and the essence and goals of business.