Lets go with the assumption that we need more entrepreneurs, not less.
If that is the case, why are there people who keep telling entrepreneurs that they shouldn’t be doing a startup? That is a bunk thing to do. Entrepreneurs reach out everyday to those they feel can assist them with their idea and business model.
Entrepreneurs need feedback and sometimes that feedback can be hard to give and even harder to take. When someone tells an entrepreneur that they should go back to work for someone else, they are taking the easy road.
They should be giving their insights and feedback on the model, market, the team, and the plan. All of this feedback should help the entrepreneur overcome the issues in any of these areas. If someone is giving advice feels that the model is fundamentally flawed, then address that directly. Tell them why you feel that way, how you came up with this feedback.
No entrepreneur is perfect and no business model is slated for certain success. Our job is to provide assistance, insights, and even a push in the right direction.
If you are an entrepreneur and someone tells you to give it up completely and to go back to work. Feel free to get up and walk out. They aren’t worth your time. Afterall, you have a business to run!
Update: Here is another great post.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Don’t listen to nay-sayers. It’s easy to think of reasons something won’t work, easy to tear something up.
Thing is, all successful businesses have bucked trends and forged their own path, because they knew they were doing the right thing.
If if your thing isn’t right today, that doesn’t mean you won’t find your path:
http://blog.asmartbear.com/blog/your-idea-sucks-now-go-do-it-anyway.html
Thanks for a great, inspirational article.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Great post Jason! I will update the above thread with a link.
February 4th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Of course, it also could be honestly good advice.
There are people that are just not cut out to be an entrepreneur. Heck, I may even be one of them. Telling them to just “go for it” or “follow your dream” is REALLY taking the easy road.
In order to give really good advice about this you need to get to know the person.
http://www.brucephenry.com/2009/02/wrong-kind-of-advice.html
Don’t wimp out. Cowboy up and tell ‘em what you REALLY think.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:51 am
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