It's hard to come by business sometimes, especially when people either don't know about you or trust how you can benefit them. Suspicion rules. I'm still to meet that one person/organisation which is willing to invest faith. Everybody is so scared to take a chance, especially with a newcomer. And I'm not sure how to receive that - with disappointment or sympathy. Investors are hard to come by too. And so is attention. If you can't zap them in a second, people are likely to shake their heads regretfully, reminding you of the way out.
But there is one thing you are likely to get in abundance! Free advice. Everybody has something to say. Whether it's about how it should be run or what products ought to be sold, if a strong opinion exists, it has to be expressed. Most times I scan this advice for anything useful (like a sieve), since most of my ideas occur to me through conversations with people. I try not to miss an opportunity. However, most of it is simply gas. Uninformed, impractical and unreasonable. I don't let them know. Just nod my head pleasantly.
If you follow it, you're screwed! Tried and tested.
