SCORE

Right now the old adage «you get what you pay for» echoes in my head. As an entrepreneur with a profitable business I want to turbo boost my profits. So knowing the value of counsel, I jumped at the opportunity for free consulting. It sounds like a steal, but I have since learned that when you pay nothing for consulting, you get what you pay for.
I wore a tie for the first appointment as I expected a business minded mentor. He wore jeans! So for the subsequent visits I dressed more casually. Later I would discover the SCORE handbook mandates business casual attire for SCORE mentors.
One small business book described SCORE as follows, «Some SCORE mentors may have long illustrious careers in big business but do not have the patience for small business.» Indeed. From my search I found this mentor worked in business consulting for big business, but I could not find any evidence he started a business, much less a successful business. The SCORE manual even has to tell SCORE mentors how small business differs from big business. I wonder how many actual entrepreneurs serve as SCORE mentors.
My mentor doesn’t listen well. His advice frequently consists of platitudes. He overgeneralizes, saying things like «People don’t want to say anything negative.» Oh really? In what world does he live? I followed his advice, such as it was, yet it didn’t help.
My mentor seems to have the mentality if your business doesn’t immediately make huge profits you should quit. I cannot stand the mindset that if success does not come immediately, you quit. My business is profiting; I just want it to profit more.
My mentor is pessimistic, one of those glass is always half empty type of people. He utters discouraging words.
Learn this from me: don’t bother with free consulting; I’m seeking paid consulting.

We have attended a workshop and had our first private mentoring meeting and both were filled with valuable information to really get you thinking and headed in the right direction. We have been searching for a mentor program and found Score. We have been in business for 9 years and it is so helpful to find an organization with such diverse knowledge to help guide you when and where you need it. We will definitely be attending 2 – 3 more workshops in October and have 2 new mentor sessions scheduled.
Thanks Score!

I attended a SCORE workshop today called «Essentials for starting a small business.» For $ 45 bucks ($ 20 for an additional partner/​associate) you get six hours of training, really six different classes in one day covering things like business plans, marketing, financing, legal structure, accounting, taxes and insurance. Honestly, I went in expecting a lowest common denominator approach (i.e. to be bored) and was pleasantly surprised to find that the workshop was incredibly useful, packed with information, and the teachers and coaches highly experienced and approachable.
What’s even cooler is SCORE offers free (yes, free) business coaching from mostly retired business people from various areas such as marketing, legal, accounting, etc. This is an amazing resource for anyone serious about starting a business.
I plan to take full advantage of all the programs SCORE has to offer my business, it is a great resource. Highly recommended!