With a little help from friends
“Behind every successful business owner is a team of supporters who helped them succeed.”
I was thinking about the more outdated (and sexist) version of that quote the other day as I listened to Emily Round share her QuickBooks experience during a webinar. She started her presentation with an acknowledgement of her privileges. Among other things:
- Her father offered free labor
- Her partner helped support her financially during the first year of her business
- She had access to infrastructure and resources through New Entry’s incubator farm program.
I very much appreciated this acknowledgement! Sometimes when we see other entrepreneurs succeed when we struggle, and it can make us wonder what’s wrong with us. But the reality is that it’s hard to launch a successful business without some help. Behind the face of success is a whole crew of people cheering and helping us, from helpful dad’s to supportive friends and everything in between.
I need help.
Wow, those sure are tough words to type or say out loud. When we need it the most, is perhaps when it’s most difficult to ask. Maybe it’s a fear of looking weak, or just not having the bandwidth to stop and ask. Perhaps, there’s an element of imposter syndrome – “If someone helps me, then I can’t really own my success.”
The funny thing is, that no matter how hard it is to ask for help, most people are delighted to give help for a friend or colleague in need.
Certainly, not all friends will offer free labor nor support you during your start-up years (as Emily’s family did). But there are other ways we can get support to launch and grow our businesses.
Many times, help can just be answers to questions that create mental roadblocks towards our progress. Here are some lowkey ways to ask for help… to help you get started.
Facebooks Groups
For as much maligned as Facebook is, it offers some wonderful support groups. Your Successful Farm Business Discussion Group has over 18,000 members and someone always has helpful tips whether it’s a question about launching a CSA or growing lettuce in hot weather.
In a group focused for women entrepreneurs, lawyers, accountants and other specialists are often willing to chat on the phone for 30 minutes at no charge.
Similar Businesses in Different Markets
When launching a new business or enterprise, there are so many unknowns it can be overwhelming. But for many opportunities, like opening a farm store or building a new restaurant, hundreds of people have done it before you. And most are willing to share their experiences so you can learn from their mistakes.
I’m currently working with a client who wants to build a farm store. There are so many questions about size and scale for the store; what the zoning requirements are; what they can expect for build-out costs. Rather than trying to answer all these question on his own, he can find other farm-store owners several communities away and learn about their experiences. They may not have all the answers you need, but they can get you closer to the right path than if you head out on your own.
Be Prepared to Give Back
For as much as people enjoy helping someone in need, there is a limit to what people will give without getting something back.
The other day, I was chatting with a colleague who was preparing to give a presentation on QuickBooks. I was happy to help her think through her presentation, and offer lessons learned from my experiences. After several email exchanges and phone calls, I was grateful for her acknowledgement that she might be pushing the boundaries and offered compensation for my time.
I also recognize that being helpful is not always a quid pro quo… I helped my friend with her presentation. And when I have questions about QB (and believe you me, I do!) I have someone who’s willing to problem solve with me for 10 minutes.
Bottom Line: it’s okay to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength to put out what you need. And when you get help, remember to pay it back or forward. No one likes a moocher.
