No Entrepreneur is an Island

08.16.11

On road trips when I was a kid I remember passing RVs wearing "Good Sam" stickers; My fantasy was that this was a way for travelers to signal they could be counted on to be helpful. (I was so naive. It actually turns out that it's an RV club sticker!) Anyway, I am wishing these days that my fellow entrepreneurs wore stickers.

Hey, wait a minute...

People, entrepreneurs should not need stickers. Should I say that again? In our community, helpfulness should be a given. We may be independent, but that's all the more reason we need each other.

Times like these can bring out the worst in people. It's all too easy - especially in this economy - to sink into the "every man for himself" mindset; but when you cut off others' requests you also cut off untold opportunities for expansion. Alone you are likely to run circles in your self-made Habitrail until you (or your resources) are exhausted. Do you really want to be the island without a ferry?

When I see these red flag behaviors in potential (or active) clients, I drop them from my contacts faster than a recalled packet of turkey dogs:

• Picking the brains of a fellow consultant without compensation and literally profiting by it;


• Scheming to get another entrepreneur to unwittingly do you a favor; or


• After seeing at fellow consultant's proposal, intentionally underbidding it.

The highest and best value we can have with one another is to be good referral partners. What does this mean exactly? We should:

1. Make thoughtful introductions with the intention of solving problems and putting people to work;

2. Make sure that those introductees know why they're meeting and precisely how it's a win-win for them;

3. When you hear of a misunderstanding or witness a mishap, act as you would if you witnessed a car crash- -be a witness and verify the facts so that people can resolve their issues and get on with their lives; and

4. Help brainstorm win-win deals--even if you're not involved.

Karmic benefits aside, I promise your efforts will be rewarded exponentially with the help and support of grateful colleagues. We're all smart, resourceful people - we don't have to reserve all of our savvy for our clients. Contributing in our community counts too.