Facing Reality- Conversation with an Entrepreneur

I invest some of my time consulting/coaching entrepreneurs. Typically, they desire external coaching when they are stuck and unsure what to do. They have too many problems to solve or they want to build a business but don’t have a real solution.

The following is a typical “condensed” conversation that I experience:

Entrepreneur:  Can you give me your thoughts on this product/idea/plan/etc.?

Ron:   Sure, do you want the “bullshit feel good version” or the “candid and useful” version?

Entrepreneur:  Candid all the way. That’s the only way I roll.

Ron: Excellent, that’s great to hear. I have a saying…. “Face reality as it is, not as it was or you wish to be”. So, you have to have candor to allow reality to be faced.

Entrepreneur:  That sounds great.

Ron reviews the product/idea/plan/etc. and reports back to the entrepreneur.

Ron: Ok. I have reviewed the work and think that it is weak.  It lacks any real purpose/depth/utility/innovation.  More work needs to be done in these areas, blah, blah, blah.

Silence….

Entrepreneur:  Ok...well, we think it’s great (and so does our mommy) so we will keep on going…..by the way, if you have any input for us, please let us know.

Ron: Sure, I will get right on that!

Summary:

It is fascinating how many entrepreneurs seek the advice of external “experts” with the only real desire is for validation of their pursuits.

They totally dismiss the advice provided and typically refuse to even question themselves with this new, misaligned input.  From my experience, most end up wasting months of their career and blowing critical investment dollars that could have gone into a better plan or a better entrepreneur.