What’s an entrepreneur’s greatest asset?

Money? Experience? Talent? The list of assets that a great entrepreneur needs is endless, however, there is only one thing that makes or breaks an entrepreneur, his friends. You could exchange the word friends for ‘connections’ but I prefer the former because its only through people you know that you meet people you don’t (well, most of the time anyway).
The most frequent questions I am asked usually begin ‘how did you’ and end with ‘meet person x or y’. The answer to those questions is usually the same, I met them through a friend. For example, the genius who helped pioneer the technology behind the puck was introduced to me via someone I worked with at a bar. I met the guys who invested in me through a friend I made on a ‘entrepreneur’s boot camp’. All the most important connections I have ever made, have been made through friends.

Interestingly, the friends who introduced me to the most important connections I have made are still my friends today. One of the biggest parts of thirsti is a Whatsapp group that I have with two close friends. Neither of those friends have ever made me important connections nor, have they done any work for or with me. What they have done is allowed me to bounce ideas around, test theories and supported me for over two years. They are both natural entrepreneurs which helps because they understand the journey and offer better advise than ‘it will work itself out’… (the most annoying and pointless thing to tell anyone when something isn’t working right).
My advice to anyone that wants to build a business, no matter what it is, is to meet as many people as possible and to make genuine friendships with people you click with. Once you make those friendships invest time and effort into them because genuine friendships with people who understand what you’re going through will make the difference to you enjoying the journey or hating it. Some friends will be able to introduce you to future investors or designers but most won’t. Most friends will help you get through the low periods of starting up and if you can get through those times, you’ll have a strong chance of being successful.
Remember, you are the culmination of the 5 closest people to you, so meet as many people as possible and then invest time into the people who want to see you do well.

