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   Serving small/home-based business and the Minnesota film industry.
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BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF DOES NOT MEAN 
HAVING TO GO IT ALONE
By Michelle J. Bloom
Having support, whether starting or growing a business can be
crucial to your success.  Be proactive - go out and seek it. 
Here are a few ideas.  
Put together your own advisory board.  Major corporations have
advisory boards, you can, too. The board consists of people you
have hand-chosen who are supportive of your business.  Some
relationships to consider for members of the board are your
accountant, a lawyer, a colleague who knows your industry well, a
friend who knows your strengths and weaknesses, your mate; if you
have a mentor, invite her, too!  The idea here is to strike a
balance between people who know you, your industry, and/or have
their own expertise - such as the lawyer and accountant.  
This type of mix insures you are covering all the bases.  
The board knows your goals, having read your business plan, and
is willing to meet maybe once every 4 - 6 months;  this meeting
is a chance for you to critically assess what you have done,
where you are going.  The purpose is to bring them up to date, do
any strategizing needed and reassess your goals and priorities. 
Some questions to consider are: what is working?  what needs more
time? what should you let go of?  Have this meeting organized and
well thought out; you don't want to waste anyone's time or
knowledge.  Have it at a restaurant, treat them to lunch.  
Another chance at getting (and giving) support can come through
association memberships, community involvement and free or low-cost 
educational opportunities.  Check the local newspaper's
business calendar.  Even going to a two hour lecture can reap
rewards of support be it the colleagues you meet or the
information itself.  As an Entrepreneur often working alone, you
can  underestimate your potential - going to a lecture can prove
that you are on the right track.  
If you find you need a bit more hand-holding than the advisory
board is meant to give you, or association meetings can supply,
there are a number of consultants who can help at low- to no-cost.  
For starters, you can call the Service Corps of Retired
Executives (SCORE) or any Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) in your area.  If you find you need more training and want
a program to walk you through business start up, there may be
various low-cost programs where you live - you can call the Small
Business Administration (SBA) in your area for information.  If
your area is served by a Community Development Corporation (CDC)
it may have resources you can use.  If there are local colleges 
or universities with business programs, don't fail to check them 
out.
Being self-employed does not mean having to go it alone - it just
means you need to be proactive in seeking support.  
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Michelle J. Bloom is founder of Creative Business Consulting, 
a homebased and small business consulting firm and resource center.  
You  may contact her with your questions and comments at 
(612)722.2213 or by e-mail at michelle.j.bloom@wizinfo.com.
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This article first appeared in print, in a slightly different
form, in SOUTHSIDE PRIDE.
--- Maximus 3.01
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