Small Business Advice
“Small Business Advice.” So what does that mean? It seems that starting a business-coaching business is one of the top businesses to start. But what criteria do these “schools” have for folks getting into and learning to be a small business coach?
Actually I have no idea. I did notice that they all wanted my money when I went to their sites to figure out what all they do. Some courses were selling for $1,000; others for as much as $7,500.
I totally agree that training for coaches is so important. But it seems odd to me that someone who may have no or very little experience as a small business owner would be dishing out advice. That reminds me of the person who has big opinions on child rearing; yet has no children.
If you go to my “about me” page, Jen McGahan did a great job giving some of my background. As a kid, I remember my parents and grandparents and godparents all talking about their day as small family business owners (each had their own business). From there, I started one business after another. From having as many as 29 employees to being a non-employee business owner; I have started businesses using a credit card and I’ve taken loans that have two commas in the loaned amount. Each business idea deserves its own thought and discussion. No one-way is right, no one way is wrong; but it is all a matter of risk.
Giving small business advice and coaching is a very important thing to do. Giving bad advice or not giving the right advice is simply dangerous. After all, bad advice put into practice can ruin a business.
Both Jen McGahan and I understand the fears that go into business advice. We both have been given bad advice in the past, as well as brilliant advice. Has it made us bitter? No. As for the good advice: it’s all just words until we put the work into it. But our experiences have caused us to ask a lot of questions, and understand where each person is going, and where they want to end up.
So when you pick a coach, make sure the advice you get is what you will need, not what you want to hear. Make sure the coach understands business.
“Good Advice,” Flickr photo by Colin PDX
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