Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have to say, after listening to the radio show with the sisters from Twin Beginnings who invented the "No Throw", I am really envious of those of you who have partners whom share your vision (like Rich and Jeff Sloan) . Being solo, sometimes I feel alone and overwhelmed. Sometimes I wish I had someone trustworthy to toss ideas at and make decisions with. I love what I do and I`m not saying I want a partner, but I think it would be easier with another person. I think my growth could have been much faster.

Do any of you wish you had a partner who shared your vision sometimes? Just curious.

Hi Christine,

I hear you...I`m alone here with Trotter (choco. Lab)...for as much as I adore him, he`s not exactly a great edior of copy, and he certainly can`t help out with Excel spreadsheets.

But yes...having a team here would help with some of the feelings of lonliness and total anxiousness.  The other night I was up at 5:30 in the morning crafting a note to my illustrator about several items that I have been worried about.  Her response was "don`t worry."  That phrase always makes me worry.

The other thing I think we have to learn as "lone stars" is to trust our decision making process...and not to 2nd guess ourselves, which is counter productive, for sure.

But judging from your site and your comments on the SuN site...you seem like someone who has their "sheets" together.

Continued success.

My wife is helping me get my venture off the ground, but at the same time, she has her own career that she concentrates on. My venture (at least the direction I am taking it) is pretty much new to this particular area and it is very difficult to find likeminded people who share my interest. I often feel alone out there, but I know that there are alot of benefits to being solo. So its all good in the end.

Christine,
That`s exactly why we started our business resource center - The Work Factory - here in Richmond, VA. Members can come here as often or as little as they want, but it provides a comfortable business atmosphere away from home where they can network and just talk and learn from others. Sort of an extension of a home office.
-Dave


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The Work Factory
A business resource center
1113 W. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 355-1236
www.theworkfactory.com

Chris,

I have thought about this many times. My friends and family know what I am working on and building a business around. At times I think it would be great to partner with someone you really know. Its healthy to have a second opinion on ideas or moves you make along the way. I have actually made comments to friends about possibly looking for a business partner. You know what keeps them away. Money. I really believe most people are scared of investing and taking on risk. This is why some stay in their 9-5 jobs and may procrastinate when they think about starting their own venture.

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Allan Thorne President Rock Solid Innovations LLC RockSolidInnov@sbcglobal.net www.RockSolidInnovations.com 408-786-6958

Folks, you are all missing the point ...

Team building is not only neccessary to a successful venture ... it is MANDATORY !

Joe Montana did not get those Super Bowl rings all by himself. It took Jerry Rice and all the others to win those games, too.

A team can be as small as just 2 players ... but without it ... just what we have read about in this thread occurs. Team building does not mean that the players have to have a financial ownership in the business. It simply means that the team has a common interest in the project succeeding.

I challenge everyone of the the previous posters to find just 1 person to excentuate and pick-up where you are lacking. Each one of us has skills, but not ALL the skills needed to succeeed.

Joe Montana could sure throw a football and was a born leader. But he sure couldn`t kick fieldgoals, could he? (Get my drift?) Find folks that are interested in sharing their skills.

Or better yet, find another startup that needs your skills ... and give of yourself first. You`ll be amazed to see how the Lord will bless you for giving of yourself.

(Become a giver, rather than a taker ... use the concept of tything in your daily life)

"Although tithing per se is not relevant to Christians, giving most certainly is. As a member in particular of the Body of Christ, each Christian is to determine in his own heart how much he gives and where he allocates his resources among his brothers and sisters in Christ (2 Cor. 9:7). The Epistles metaphor by which material giving is strongly encouraged is that of sowing and reaping—the more you sow, the more you reap (2 Cor. 9:6)." (compliments of http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&fi le=article&sid=161 )

Once you become a team member for another`s project, you`ll become a "team magnet". Folks will want to be part of your team, just as players wanted to be part of the 49`ers because Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and others were there.

Entrepenerd wrote :

[quote]I am really envious of those of you who have partners whom share your vision (like Rich and Jeff Sloan) . Being solo, sometimes I feel alone and overwhelmed. Sometimes I wish I had someone trustworthy to toss ideas at and make decisions with. I love what I do and I`m not saying I want a partner, but I think it would be easier with another person. I think my growth could have been much faster.[/quote]

I think there words are more true for women vs men. (No, I`m not a sexist)

But in growing up, boys tend to play in teams ... and the teams will change from day to day. One day I`m on Davy`s team, the next day I`m on Johnny`s team. And with each team the roles change.

Girls, growing up, tend to play in "social circles". Sally, Jenny, and Mary all play together. But if Karen moves in next door, they may or may not let her in their "social group".

Women, through their upbringing and play activities, have a more difficult time dealing with the "team" concept. I`m not saying that tqomen are inferior ... far from that. But I am saying that women, to succeed with the team concept, need to discard their "social circle" think ... and embrace the "team concept" like boys do.

As I was developing GoTruckStop.com, it required me to "think" as a woman would regarding shopping and merchandising. Just a s Mel Gibson got in touch with his "feminine side" in the movie "What Women Want", I had to understand what makes women shop, buy and share their experience with other women, especially wives or girlfriends of truckers. I had preconceived ideas, that were quickly discarded once I understood the "feminine psychie" of shopping, especially on-line.

So, go find someone to be a team member with, help them in their endeavor ... and the Lord will bless you in yours.

Hey guys,
Thanks for your input. I think a lot of us feel alone at times. It`s hard but it`s also really, really rewarding to say "I created this". Like some of you, I have a spouse who is supportive - but to a point. He just doesn`t share the vision that I do. And that`s okay.  He has his own thing.

TJG - I think I get what you`re saying. Everyone needs to build a team eventually by hiring people to help you (or helping them so they help you) - but it`s really hard in the beginning when you aren`t able to compensate people yet and you`re trying to make every decision on your own. That is unless you have a partner from the very beginning, and that`s what I`m saying I`m envious of sometimes. To share a vision from the very beginning must be pretty cool. I`m sure it has it`s ups and downs but at least when one person is down the other can talk them back up and vice versa. When the lone entrepreneur is down, you pretty much have to talk yourself back up.

Not all business ventures require a physical "team" for success.  In the case of my graphic design work, I am most often truly a one-person venture.  With 80-85% of my clients outside of my home state of Oregon, I`m very seldom meeting with clients in person - and with email I often complete projects without ever talking to the client.  I also don`t meet with vendors because most graphic files are simply delivered via cyber methods and many such vendors are outside of Portland as well.  Most of my contact with others in my industry is by way of email  or online forums. It can be very isolating at times.

I do occasionally attend local business networking events - but most often attendees are so damn focused (as in "damn glad to meet ya and this is what I can sell/offer/do for you!") on the business of business that they forget to be human. 

To battle "the loneliness of long-distance designer" I have my Thursday morning "koffee klatch."  Five of us have been meeting for nearly five years now at a local coffee house. Several of us had been friends, or were connected by client relationships, for up to 10 years prior to our first coffee gathering.  Whomever is in town on Thursday morning knows that someone will be available for coffee, breakfast and personal interaction.  Each of us is on our own solo business adventure -  a grantwriter/playwright, the owner of a retail store, a live theatre producer/author, a documentary filmmaker/writer/entrepreneur and myself.  On occasion an advertising copywriter, an independent book editor or the owner of a retail nursery may pop in to join us. The owner of the coffee house refers to us as her "live entertainment."  The weekly activity forces us all to get showered, get dressed and get out of the house.  We share ideas, discuss marketing, bitch about clients/customers, tell great stories and laugh a lot.  It`s a lot cheaper than therapy and much more fun.  I always return to my home studio energized and ready to take on what may come my way.

I`m already looking forward to my coffee group tomorrow morning!

- J.




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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

J,

Like you I counteract my alone-ness by getting together with friends. My husband and I have people over every Saturday night for "game night". We have a core group of 4 but people pop in and it often turns into 6 or more. I look forward to saturday nights so much! This weekend we`re not having it though because one friend is jumping out of an airplane with some other friends and won`t be around. The next weekend we are having it in NJ because we are all going to the NHRA drag races. I can`t wait!

Wow...amazing topic !!

I was searching to put a Post, how would be the next step to get out from Solo and get into a Team Company.

But I share with you both side of the story. Solo has its own reward. But it has its inner limitations.

It is a good `spot` for some people, and it might be just a quick-step for others Mountain-Climbers.

And it`s a different from one type of business to another.

As a Solo-Company PC Tech (I hate this `PC Tech` title, I`m more than that..) I have a Satellite type of business. What I mean with that?

I work with other Solo-Companies Tech, but Techs that are in other field, I would say, complementary from Computers, such as A/V Techs (Audio-Video, those who install Cable,TV,Home Theaters, etc), Telephony Techs, Home-builders, etc. Because they need me and they provide me jobs related to Computers or Computerized Systems. And when one of my customers need them, I reference them. So, it`s kind of SYMBIOSIS.

The good thing is, I reach unthinkable customer relationships and abundance of posibilities in that way, rather than be a shark-type of businessman where survive is the king.

Honesty & Win-Win scenario are my axioms.

This type of approach push me up like a buble in a water.

So now, I`m in the concern to get a partner, for all the same things you guys expose here, but also because....I NEED MORE HANDS!

The thing is: I don`t have any idea how to THINK as a TEAM Company before to get one.

I know I have to have a vision at least. But I can`t see it yet.

I trust on people as a prior approach, so I`m not afraid to be disappointed as a premise.

So, help me out on this God S.U.N !

I`m convinced of my business!

How can I get a partner that share the same believe?.

And I agree plenty with GUESTS:

Team building is not only neccessary to a successful venture ... it is MANDATORY !

(as I said, for certain kind of people and business to grow to the next step)