Do You Have A Business Buddy?
With all the kids in my area going to and from camps, I have to complement the buddy system. You know it, right? Camp counselors pair kids up and they sort of watch over each other. It got me wondering why more business owners don't

With all the kids in my area going to and from camps, I have to complement the buddy system. You know it, right? Camp counselors pair kids up and they sort of watch over each other. It got me wondering why more business owners don't use this. Sure, we have friends who might listen to our issues but can't entirely relate. And, most attend at least one peer related event regularly to network or learn. However, a true business buddy is a hybrid of these two that can be invaluable to your success - both business and personal. Here are telltale signs of good and bad buddies. Review your close comrades and see if they fit the bill.

What A Good Buddy Is Not

  • 100% Devil's Advocate - I have two of these in my life (not counting my MIL). They are extremely left-brained and think they are helping by always finding the negative in any idea;
  • 100% Cheerleader - I have one of these. This person has no clue what I do for a living yet is a huge fan of everything I do. This can be great when I need a boost, but his constant perkiness isn't productive.
  • Spouse - They are way too close to be objective. They have far too much interest in the collateral damage surrounding a risky idea.
  • BFF - Best friends are great for non-business related discussions. If you rely on them for advice, they give some, you follow it and it fails - your friendship suffers.
  • Competitors - Industry peers are great for commiserating, but would you really want to share your latest brilliant idea that could end up on their website tomorrow?
10-4, Good Buddy
  • Business Person Serving Your Same Target Audience - They will be familiar with some needs of this audience based on their own experiences.
  • Peer/Competitor Serving Another Geographic Area - If you only work in a specific location, you can buddy up with friendly competition and compare strategies.
  • Slightly Right of Center - Being right brained is a great feature for creativity, but it needs to be tempered with practicality to be truly helpful. Left-brained analytical types tend to need lots of facts and you might just not have those when you want to bounce that great new idea off them.
  • Optimistic - Pom-poms are not required, but allowing you to dream and being enthusiastic is infectious.
Be on the look-out for a good business buddy. Where mastermind groups generate ideas and solve problems, buddies are there when the important check you need to balance your month doesn't arrive and when you have an amazing new idea for a product expansion. Their support can get you through the best and worst of times.
Paula Pollock is Director of the Pollock Marketing Group. She operates on the principal that all businesses deserve affordable marketing assistance to convert leads into sales. To receive her quick-read, weekly marketing tips and her Special Report, “7 Client Attraction Secrets That Will Double Your Income,” sign up at http://www.paulapollock.com/
Comments
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***jeannie***     |67.142.130.xxx |2009-10-28 05:48:35
Hi Paula, this is good advice. Thank you.

jennifer schaecher     |67.142.130.xxx |2009-10-28 05:49:19
Paula,
Interesting article and concept. thanks. honestly don’t know that i will take action on this…that may be the part that’s missing from this info. ?

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