“What really?” What number do you have to offer a successful software entrepreneur to move their needle relative to the much bigger company they own 100% of? How sure are you that you can predict all contractual obligations X has regarding “external advising or consulting”?
-
-
Show this thread
-
By comparison, reading emails and dashing off a few lines in response is free and easy, with minimal formal consequences. (Both sides should understand that’s the expectation and not an SLA. SLAs have consequences. That’s the point. You probably can’t afford them.)
Show this thread -
“What does an advisor get out of this?” Being listened to! Fun, interesting, novel problems. The sensation of being Still In The Game. A feeling of giving back to the community; it’s a grown-up version of sponsoring the neighborhood little league team. And a relationship.
Show this thread -
“A relationship?” Yeah, which is exactly what it says on the tin; can mean nothing or can be a very deep business partnership. Who knows what the future holds.
Show this thread -
“How do I ask for this?” Repeat after me: “Would it be OK if I sent you an email monthly about our progress?”
Show this thread -
“How do you ensure they respond to your emails?” Again, you have no guarantee of that because you’re explicitly not capable of buying that outcome. But generally, write interesting emails for months/years and your engagement numbers will be much better than if you don’t.
Show this thread -
“What’s interesting?” Ideally an irregularly timed emotional rant seeking deeply needed validation with as little pre-work as possible from someone who made no progress, never takes advice, and never tells how advice ended up once implemented. Or the opposite of that.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
I find this super interesting because I see your point & see why some would love this but I personally dont. I struggle with feeling connection in this scenario. Like throwing advice into a void that people use & reply to but not feeling like they *care* in the same way as in 1:1
-
Different strokes for different folks! For me, I care *intensely* about some businesses that I am on the extreme periphery of and enjoy e.g. a 1:1 dinner or something if I can get it once a year but don't really get much emotional satisfaction or productivity out of a Zoom call.
- 2 more replies
New conversation -
-
-
We have a formal role known as a “coach,” which is a mentor a skip-level above you and not in your chain of command. Everyone has them (incl. CEO). They are there strictly to guide in your career. Remains the single greatest talent-growth differentiator we have in my opinion.
-
I like this idea. I am pedantically curious what "skip-level above" a CEO means though. Non-board member, non-investor who has exited a similar co as CEO?
- 1 more reply
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.