Too many ideas... I need a mentor

**MatthewCDowell** · 11-25-2010 11:48 PM

I've come up with 7 business plans and 3 products in the past year to which i have researched and looked at their capability in the market and believe they all have room to survive.

I have no mentor... i am 22, middle class parents (retired lt. col air force) that have no concept of business...

where the heck am i supposed to go... who am i supposed to talk to?

**flowCashflow** · 11-27-2010 02:01 PM

Hi Matthew. I feel your pain. Here is a great article that gives you steps to develop and test your ideas.
hxxp://cashflowexpertsacademy.com/155/achieve-financial-independence

Just copy and past the web address into your browser and replace the "xx" with "tt"

As far as your need in a mentor, make sure you have a clear picture of what you are trying to accomplish. My first mentor helped me paint a picture as vivid as HD. Things just seemed to fall in place after that. Also have a good knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses. That way the right mentor with resinate with you and you'll "feel" the value you'll get from the relationship. Also that vision will help the mentor know how he/she can help.

**SKyleD** · 11-27-2010 11:54 PM

Hi Mathew
You mentioned you were 22 years old, that is the perfect time to enroll yourself in a business course in college or even through corrispondance of some sort. In a couple of years you could have a certification from an entrepeneurial program or business course and have an idea of where to turn then you can launch your ideas into action with the knowledge and ability to turn those ideas into gold.
ToYour Success!
SKyleD

**KyleXY** · 11-28-2010 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by SKyleD

Hi Mathew
You mentioned you were 22 years old, that is the perfect time to enroll yourself in a business course in college or even through corrispondance of some sort. In a couple of years you could have a certification from an entrepeneurial program or business course and have an idea of where to turn then you can launch your ideas into action with the knowledge and ability to turn those ideas into gold.
ToYour Success!
SKyleD

I don't even know where to begin my disagreement with this statement. There are so many things you learn in class that is completely wrong with how an actual business operate. The number of things that do actually apply do not outweigh the things that don't and for that reason alone, the time and money spent taking these courses and getting a useless certification that doesn't apply to operating your own business is garbage.

You can literally learn things faster by trying and doing in a much much shorter period of time and without wasting time and money doing other things, like taking classes instead of building your business. While I think school and education as a whole is important and is needed for many reasons, this is not one of them.

**SKyleD** · 11-28-2010 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by KyleXY

I don't even know where to begin my disagreement with this statement. There are so many things you learn in class that is completely wrong with how an actual business operate. The number of things that do actually apply do not outweigh the things that don't and for that reason alone, the time and money spent taking these courses and getting a useless certification that doesn't apply to operating your own business is garbage.

You can literally learn things faster by trying and doing in a much much shorter period of time and without wasting time and money doing other things, like taking classes instead of building your business. While I think school and education as a whole is important and is needed for many reasons, this is not one of them.

To kyleXY
I hear what your saying and I agree with you in regards to many of lessons learned in business school won't do you much good in the real world when it comes down to the nitty gritty, and it may not be for everyone. But if you re-read his initial comment he specifically stated I have no idea where to go and no one to talk to and no one in his family has any concept of business. Now in my opinion at 22 years old, whole life ahead of you, no business backround, no one in your family with business background & a drive to be a businessman, why not learn the ins and outs, there is nothing stopping him from moving forward with his business ides while he is going to school. Happens all the time. I was simply trying to point him in the right direction. He is looking for a mentor, there is no better place to look for a mentor, when you dont know where to look, then surrounded by business minded professional in the right learning institution. I am basically saying if your new to business, learn all you can as quickly as you can before you make the many costly mistakes made by everyone starting out in business. It will happen for sure, but with a little bit of knowledge and backround in business, it certainly cant hurt. Many mentors will also want to know how much you know, what you have done so far to get where you are in life, how much drive and ambition you have to become a business man. Proove it to them by learning all you can learn, get your nose in the door, show the world you are serious and moving forward.
I was trying to help him with his question, where does he turn? Who does he talk to? I dont see anyone awnsering any of these questions for him, asking him a bit more about his ideas, I just see you telling him not to go to school not offering any advice to his question. Had you offered advice to his question as to where he should turn, who he should talk to, etc. then it would be a different story, but your reply was 100% negative and not good business advice, in fact you never offered any advice at all you told him to roll into his business ventures completely blind. He is looking for direction and someone to point him in that direction, all you told him was school is a bad place and dont talk to professional who may be able to help you out.
Not the knid of advice I would be looking for and I am sure many would agree.
Rolling into a new business plan with zero experience, zero support & completely blind can cost alot more in the long run than taking a course or two. Its a cut throat world and he is going to need some serious business ideas behind him to be taken seriously right out of the gate. Not to say he cant do it, because he absolutely may be able to, but I think the purpose of this forum is to assist each other and offer help and advice when we can. You didnt do that, you didnt help him with his problem, you just put down my advice, which was more than you offered him to begin with.

**Coach Dick Snider** · 11-28-2010 02:26 PM

Have you considered joining a business as a junior member, and learning as you go? Or, are you set on being/becoming an entrepreneur?

**SKyleD** · 11-28-2010 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Coach Dick Snider

Have you considered joining a business as a junior member, and learning as you go? Or, are you set on being/becoming an entrepreneur?

Exactly the point I was trying to make, get your foot in the door, learn all you can learn, then make your move

**Coach Dick Snider** · 11-28-2010 03:10 PM

Thanks, SKyleD

I don't mean to promote my own business in this thread, but the company I work for helps a lot of people who are treading water and struggling to find the next step forward. First, you "get paid to lose weight" -- I pay $2 for every pound lost, no joke. Then (if they desire) I mentor people who would like to become health coaches themselves. HealthCoachDickSnider

**KyleXY** · 11-29-2010 08:54 AM

I agree he should look for place to gain experience but I don't think school is that place. There are lots of local places in every city he can look up to network with other entrepreneurs and learn that way. There are plenty of people his age doing business. You just got to seek them out.

**Southern_Lenders** · 11-29-2010 10:07 PM

Contact SCORE.org

**rogercbryan** · 11-30-2010 09:30 AM

Sorry don't like any of the above advice... launch a damn business... what are you waiting for? Real experience only happens when you launch a business. Don't be afraid to fail... the lessons learned will help you as you move along. No course, counselor, or mentor is going to give you what you need which is a little confidence in yourself. Stop making excuses and go for it!

**darshan03** · 12-01-2010 08:04 AM

i can understand. its really difficult. Even i have started my own business of aircraft models and gifting items. its really tough in the beginning to sell them. But everytime i get stuck if i have no knowledge and there is no mentor to help also. So its your brain how you research and find things. nowadays google gives you a answer for anything you ask. So expand your knowledge. Do your research. Dont wait for others opinions. It will be really better to take suggestion from your own self than taking from others because sometimes people wont suggest you good things.