Stop Waiting for Your Buddies, Go At it Alone!
Why is it that college entrepreneurs feel that they need to build a business with either 1) their roommate 2) one of their friends from business class or 3) that really smart computer science kid they see around school?
I’m guilty of wanting to build a team of college students to build my first business during my second year of college. Sure, it’s only natural for us to want to work with our peers and friends from college; students who want to be involved in a startup.
But from my experiences, college students consist of 95% talk and 5% action. It’s not only going to be hard to find 1 or 2 students who would truly be interested in building a venture with you, but it’s downright rare!
If you approach a few of your friends at school about your venture, more than likely they’ll be interested about it if it’s solid idea and they have some inclination of being a part of something. But here’s the thing: most of these students will be interested only “temporarily” and quickly lose that enthusiasm within the first few weeks.
Don’t get me wrong: if your heart is set on building a team of your peers, then go for it. But don’t be one of those entrepreneurs who are waiting…waiting…waiting… to find those right people. There will come a time when you just have to move forward, with or without that team.
Don’t sell yourself short and think that you can’t go at it alone. You can. You’d be surprised high you can fly as a solo-entrepreneur. The sky is the limit. In this internet age that we’re in, you can contract out anything that is out of your expertise.
We’re entrepreneurs, not supermen. It’s important to understand what skills that you are lacking in order to get your company up and running. If you aren’t an expert programmer, then hire one. If you aren’t that great at marketing, then hire someone. If you can’t design if your life depended on it, then hire one.
As an entrepreneur, you can’t “wait” until other people are reading to be a part of your venture before you are able to move forward. You have to do everything in your power to move forward without them.
Of course, money may be a factor if you have to contract everything out. But you’d be surprised how many quality people that you can find that would be willing to work something out with you; work within your budget.
Don’t let others hold down your vision. If you’re not moving forward with your idea, then only you are to blame. So take action and make something happen – anything.
Read Go At it Alone to help get you thinkin’.
6 Comments
Gina Laverde
November 1st, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Hi, I’m Gina and I’m guilty of TRYING to recruit friends into business ventures. It’s never worked for me. I think some of us feel that we really could use our “friend’s” expertise — and that we can sell them on that. Vison is the most important part in the starting phase of a business. if our friend cannot see our vision– they’re no good for the biz.
Carolina
November 1st, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Lol, I am guilty of this too Dave, ouch, caught in the RED!
Yeah, it’s just so much more complex when you recruit friends, but you figure the complexity and anxiety that this can create is worth it, if they are willing to stick by your side and help you out in your lows and highs. After having assembled 4 business teams, with three that fell apart and one that actually worked out, I am glad that I am confident enough in myself–my skills and available resources to move forward with my next gig solo. But the experience was priceless, and some of my friends learned that the entrepreneurship route is quite the roller coaster ride, that is a never ending roller coaster ride, and this is what I love most ;-D.
Thanks for the post,
C
David Askaripour
November 1st, 2006 at 9:24 pm
Gina: Yeah, it’s tough not going to your friends first, but more times that not, they are last people that you should seek out for a business partner. I’ll always remember: ” Don’t do business with friends, but be friends with people you do business with.”
Carolina: Yeah, we’re all guilty of this! If you do in fact find those rare friends who will always be by your side with your venture, then hold onto them like glue! But you seem to have the confidence and know-how of a solo-entrepreneur — so go make it happen!
Aaron K
November 2nd, 2006 at 2:19 am
David,
Great post. I used to have this problem when I was younger. I think that their are several reasons that I did it. One I wanted the commradery and support system. Second I wanted my friends to have the vision I had about business and lifestyle. I finally caught on that they will never think like I do and they are happy where they are. So no I tell them about what I do and sometimes try to give them ideas but I don’t wait for anyone anymore. The best thing an entreprenuer can do is START!
David Askaripour
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:37 am
Aaron: we live and we learn, right? At the end of that day we, the founding entrepreneurs, know our vision better than anyone and believe the most in the prospect of success; it’s always going to be hard to have others share that same level of commitment that we have. Totally agree: JUST START!!
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