Businesses operate at a pace such that they grab for help wherever it is available. More often than not, they reach toward the wrong resources, the untied advisors and sources that send them down rabbit holes.
It is lonely at the top. There are many demands upon entrepreneurs and senior management of companies. Each organization is confronted with challenges and opportunities, both real and perceived. It is tough to tackle all the obstacles and feel that substantial progress is being made.
Businesses spend so much time on momentary pieces of their puzzles that they neglect long-term Strategic Planning and miss potential successes. Costs of band aid surgery and make-good work cost six times that of planning for business on the front end.
The need exists for comprehensive business ideas and growth strategies. The need is ever-present for interfacing with senior executives and updating management skills, to avoid burnout and stimulate the seasoned professionals toward new heights. Top management regularly needs the creative inspiration to take the company to new heights. Cutting-edge executives (the very top and those about to take the mantle) need seasoned advice and inspiration.
Here is where they go to get ideas, strategies and help, in the order where they commonly go. The lower numbers represent introductory resources. The highest numbers are where they should be reaching.
1. Hearsay and third hand
- Comments heard at parties and networking functions
- Uninformed sources
- Friends of friends
- High participation networkers
- Research and surveys
2. Special Interests
- Websites containing educational material as a way to sell services
- Surveys and their feedback
3. People Selling Stuff
- Vendors who distract you, using expressions like “funding to grow your business.”
- Online marketing firms
- Internet solicitors and sellers
- Website consulting
4. Internal Management
- People you work with
- Mid-managers and supervisors
- Corporate leadership
5. Niche Experts and Consultants
- Trainers
- Freelance consultants, per industry niche
- Banking, insurance benefits, human resources, etc.
- Technology consulting firms
- Researchers
6. Educational Programs
- Speakers
- Seminars
- Panels at forums
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Webinars
- Material published or broadcast in the media
7. Books
- Articles excerpted for meetings
- Blog material posted online
- Thin self-published books by people seeking to establish a platform
- Online articles and blogs
- Serious books in libraries
- Cutting-edge books with original material
8. Advocacy Groups
- Business clubs
- Chambers of commerce
- People with whom you work in community and charity leadership roles
- Boards of directors
- The Better Business Bureau
- SCORE
- Small Business Development Center
- Trade industry groups
- Associations
- Political action committees
- Community alliances
- Professional alliances
- Consortiums of business
- Cross-industry cooperative initiatives
9. Mentors
- Pier advisory groups such as Vistage, Silver Fox Advisors
- One-on-one coaching
- CEO roundtables
- Corporate heir apparent training
- Programs such as Shark Tank, Fox Den, Ted Talks
- Leadership programs
10. Senior Business Advisors
- Professional service firms, including lawyers, accountants, marketing, public relations, quality management
11. Major Business Gurus
- Track record experts with many years in advising strategically
