I talk with a lot of entrepreneurs.
Every day… and have been for the past 30+ years.
Some are raising capital and many are not,
but it occurred to me that this idea could, would,
and should ring a bell with you.
It’s about two fundamental characteristics of entrepreneurs.
And you might do well to be aware of them both!
In broad terms,
Missionaries want to save the world…
Mercenaries are in it for the money…
Missionaries want lots of easy money to use in their quest.
“Can’t someone just give me a bunch of money to do what I want to do?”
Mercenaries, are all about the money and may make any deal to get it.
“Our numbers go straight to the moon! We’ll put our competitors out of business, etc.”
Unfortunately, missionaries often neglect the management and financial
realities of their thinking and this spooks investors…
BUT even when times are tough, they’ll keep going.
When times are tough for mercenaries, they may cut and run
for a better deal and this also spooks investors…
BUT they are often good business people.
Missionaries could benefit from some mercenary thinking and
mercenaries could benefit from some missionary thinking!
Here’s how one of my favorite VCs puts it:
“Building any business is hard, all-consuming, frustrating and fraught with personal challenges.
When a founder is “opportunity driven” it’s too easy to quit at the first bump in the road.
When a founder is “mission driven” you get the sense that he or she will do whatever it takes
to make an impact in the market they serve and will keep persevering whatever the startup trends of the month.”
~ Mark Suster, Venture Capitalist, Upfront Ventures
For what it’s worth, I believe that our BizPlanBuilder business planning system blends the best
of both elements for bringing the missionary and the mercenary together into a successful plan
of action and a great case for investors to provide capital.
But first, to keep you going in the right direction, I have something new I want to share with you…
If you’re thinking about raising capital,
here are a number of things few people will tell you
Before an investor will fund and get involved in your business,
they’re going need to love you, love what you’re doing, and see the potential in it.
We’ve got the tools to help you do that, but first,
I want to teach you a little about the game you’re playing…
Whether you’re raising capital or not, you would do well to think like a venture capitalist!
Whether you’re a mercenary or a missionary, grab your no cost copy of my new ebooklet:
“How to Gain the Advantage with Investors to Fund Your Company”
- What investors are looking for in you, your business, and your plan
- What investors worry about and what they’re likely to ask you
- How much of a return on their investment are they looking for?
- How to structure your “elevator” pitch, presentation and business plan
- Offering “Revenue Royalties” instead of selling ownership in your company?
- And a bunch of other ideas to help you gain the advantage with investors to fund your business
Download this 56-page ebooklet and get a behind-the-scenes look.
(It’s free, so grab your copy and read it now…)
For 30+ years, I’ve been all about helping you build your business!
Cheers!
