If you are looking for others to invest in your business, you may be wondering who to talk to. The simple answer is – everybody you come into contact with.

Over the years I have had some very interesting experiences, which always seemed to arise when they were least expected. While I was planning my first business, I had a job in the IT industry, which paid the bills and gave me time to think about my approach. On one occasion, I was asked to visit the home of the CEO of one of Australia’s largest banks. Although there were a number of people in the office capable of fixing his particular problem I was the only one who had shaved that morning and so it was me that was asked to go!

While I was fixing his PC, we began talking and I took the opportunity to tell him about my business plans. Ten minutes later his PC was fixed and I found myself showing him through my website, discussing the industry and my business concept.

I could hardly believe how intently he listened to me as I told him what I intended to do. Following our conversation, he drove me back into the city and told me that if I was ever looking for money for my business I should call him and he would see what he could do.

My first reaction was to call him the very next day but my gut instinct was that my business was not ready. It was almost six months before I felt that I was in a position to discuss it with him again. I contacted him through his personal assistant and to my delight, he remembered our conversation and agreed to meet with me. I was nervous when I went to his office the next day, but once I started talking about the business my anxiety disappeared. For the next hour we sat and discussed my most recent business plan and he gave me his opinion. His insights were very astute, encouraging me to see the business in ways I had not considered and it was easy to see why he was the CEO of a major organisation. I felt good about the meeting however because he highlighted both the positive and negative aspects of the business. He also provided me with some contacts for other well-known business people he thought might be interested in my opportunity. He even sent my business plan to one of them.

From a financial standpoint, nothing ever came of our conversations but I received something far more important than money from our discussions. There is often a tendency to assume that such knowledgeable people are unapproachable or wouldn’t be interested but I learned that it is always possible to open doors. Even though our total yearly revenue, at our peak, would not cover this mans salary he was happy to take the time to discuss the business with me. I could have chosen to make polite conversation while I was fixing his computer for fear that he wouldn’t be interested. But if you don’t believe in your business enough to shout it from the rafters then chances are you will never persuade anyone else to believe in it either. Grab every opportunity to talk about your business with people that can help you and never be afraid to ask for opinion or advice from anyone. Regardless of how you find yourself in their company!

Previous Page            Table of Contents            Next Page