Comments on: Outside help – An essential for a startup? http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/outside-help-%e2%80%93-an-essential-for-a-startup/ Sports News - Tech Reviews - Entertainment - Life Tips for EveryJoe Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:39:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Skip Shuda http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/outside-help-%e2%80%93-an-essential-for-a-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-312902 Skip Shuda Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:01:57 +0000 http://www.startupspark.com/outside-help-%e2%80%93-an-essential-for-a-startup/#comment-312902 Hey Shannon. Some good ideas – and I think having a good set of supporters early on can be crucial to success. I’d throw out the following ideas: - know your local govt and volunteer support organizations like Small Business Development Centers and SCORE chapters - create a loose sounding board of friends and family to “bounce your ball with”. See http://smallbusiness.logoworks.com/marketing/2008/03/10/bouncing-your-idea-ball/ for a post I put out on this topic - create a formal advisory board. Ask business people you respect and trust to act as a sounding board – and keep their investment minimal. With my board of advisors, I ask them about 1 big question a quarter via email – and then host a dinner once a year Being open to good advice is always a smart move – and I’ve seen plenty of entrepreneurs who believe that they “know it all”. That is the kiss of death. Hey Shannon. Some good ideas – and I think having a good set of supporters early on can be crucial to success. I’d throw out the following ideas:

- know your local govt and volunteer support organizations like Small Business Development Centers and SCORE chapters

- create a loose sounding board of friends and family to “bounce your ball with”. See http://smallbusiness.logoworks.com/marketing/2008/03/10/bouncing-your-idea-ball/ for a post I put out on this topic

- create a formal advisory board. Ask business people you respect and trust to act as a sounding board – and keep their investment minimal. With my board of advisors, I ask them about 1 big question a quarter via email – and then host a dinner once a year

Being open to good advice is always a smart move – and I’ve seen plenty of entrepreneurs who believe that they “know it all”. That is the kiss of death.

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