Where Do They Go To Get Business Advice?

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

About the Author

Power Stars to Light the Business Flame, by Hank Moore, encompasses a full-scope business perspective, invaluable for the corporate and small business markets. It is a compendium book, containing quotes and extrapolations into business culture, arranged in 76 business categories.

Hank’s latest book functions as a ‘PDR of business,’ a view of Big Picture strategies, methodologies and recommendations. This is a creative way of re-treading old knowledge to enable executives to master change rather than feel as they’re victims of it.

Power Stars to Light the Business Flame is now out in all three e-book formats: iTunes, Kindle, and Nook.