Support desired

[Nice]

How do I find someone to help me in business decisions without having to pay him while being sure that he will tell noone about my business idea or do it himself?

I would like to make decisions with someone else who is competent in my niche. A partner, who could get his share.

Those I found either saw me as incompetent or I viewed them as either incompetent or unlikeable or unreliable.

Ideas?

[Nice]

Hello? .

[outofbandii]

Your local government should have an "enterprise" support group of some kind. For example, in Dublin, Ireland it is called the Dublin City Enterprise Board. They provide training and grants, but also free or inexpensive advisors called "mentors". Your local authority may provide mentors.

You should also look to see if there's some kind of networking, either formal, like BNI or a startup business network run by your local authority, or informal, like Open Coffee.

[Nice]

In how far does that help me in my situation?

FYI: I am living in germany.

[outofbandii]

Well, if you're looking for advice from a neutral party, for free, then a mentor is great.

Or, if you're looking for a business partner to take a share ownership of the business, going to network events is better. Even better is asking family and friends if they know anyone in business that you could talk to - you might be able to meet them for coffee or buy them lunch and get their opinions.

[Nice]

Or, if you're looking for a business partner to take a share ownership of the business, going to network events is better.

To understand the following you should know that my clothes look more like Zuckerberg's than those of Obama. I am 28 and male. I experienced these meetings a few times.

Besuited people wearing ties trying hard to look professional. You go in. What do you do? What are your expectations? Be naive and go the nicest looking man, tell him this as an opener: "Hello. I am looking for a mentor, do you want to be my mentor?". He smiles, the two of you talk about how awesome this meeting is. "Because you always meet new people". Then you go home, knowing that you met new people. The problems you are facing are the same, though. Sure you could also open the conversation with "I am looking for someone to support me in X, Y and Z. Then he can say "I cannot help you". Then you ask the whole group the same question. Noone can help you. You wasted your time. And have the feeling that those people disrespect you.

Even better is asking family and friends if they know anyone in business that you could talk to - you might be able to meet them for coffee or buy them lunch and get their opinions.

No friend or family member knows anyone who happens to have decent knowledge in my work environment.


Some fundamental issues:
- How do you find those fast that help you?
- What do you have to offer to make them help you?
- What is really behind those get-togethers? What are other people's motives?