If you’re anything like me, you really don’t like asking for help. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. I want to learn it myself and have the lessons really stick. And I don’t want to be a burden or take anyone’s time.   

Those all sound like good reasons, right? But there is also another reason: MY PRIDE. I can be too prideful to admit that I need help, that I can’t do it on my own, or that it would be faster and easier for someone to help me. That I would actually learn how to do something the right way by learning from someone else, instead of trying to figure it out on my own.

As an entrepreneur, you likely enjoy doing things on your own, starting new things, learning something by yourself, providing you can do it. But all of us need a team, and all of us need support.

And not only will it be a gift to you to ask for help, but I’ve also found that more often than not, people actually LOVE helping! When someone asks me for business advice, or to help them with a particular problem, I love being asked…and 9 times out of 10, I can quickly and easily make time!

I always recommend to entrepreneurs that they have an advisory board. A group of people with whom you can meet regularly to provide advice, encouragement and support. These could be people with expertise in your particular field, or people with expertise in you–good friends of yours who can keep you accountable and help you think things through.

This fall, I would encourage you to

1.  WRITE A LIST OF THE THINGS YOU’D LIKE ADVICE/SUPPORT ON: What big decisions are you anticipating over the next year? Or what decisions do you regularly struggle with? What support and accountability do you need? What new ideas do you want to test out?   
2. BASED ON THAT LIST, CREATE A LIST OF POTENTIAL ADVISORS: Who are the people who would have the expertise to help you with those decisions? Who is totally for you (and not the business), and can help you decide what is best for you and your loved ones? Who loves you enough to give you brutally honest feedback? I’d recommend a group of 4-5–not too large to be unwieldly, but large enough to allow for consistent meetings even if 1-2 people can’t attend.   
3. SET UP AN INITIAL MEETING: Ask the people on that list to attend ONE initial meeting, at which you share the vision for your business and for the group. Be explicit about the ask (4 meetings a year? 2-3 hours of communication between meetings?) and set up an initial commitment (4 meetings and then evaluate?). And then meet! With the right preparation on your part and clear, direct communication, i think you’ll be amazed at the impact this group can have!  

Do you have other ways of getting advice and support?

Contact me below to share your questions or thoughts.