Wise Advice from a Senior Investor to Young Entrepreneurs.

Don’t believe everything you read. Sometimes it is extremely important to listen to old success and failures stories.

Last week I had the chance to read a post about a young entrepreneur who was frustrated with the Venture Capitalist’s and Angel Investor who he had been meeting with.

His complaint was mainly about them telling their old war stories about when they were either successful or failures. Also, he couldn’t get over that some of these men and or women were talking from “10 or *gasp* 20 years ago” as he stated.

Let’s set something straight for everyone. If you are a young entrepreneur reading this right now you are here because of those men and women who started years ago.

they started what is now called Venture Capital. They started and invented Angel Investor. They started the foundation long before you were even thought of and maybe even before your parents were even thought of.

They built a foundation for the future. They designed ethics for the future. They helped build an economy where you are able to find money for your venture.

Why would you discount men and women like this? Their history means your success no matter how old they are and how out of touch you believe they are.

Don’t worry about these business people being out of touch. They have more due diligence about you and your product than you do. They have the best of the best who want to learn working for them.

See I have the best job in the world now that I am retired, sort of. I work for a group of investors from New York to Silicon Valley. What I do is take their due diligence and go one step further before they invest.

I ingratiate myself into a company they or I am looking at. I may find your company and approach you to help out. I do have a motive. I am trying to get close to you and your company because of:

1. I like what you’re doing and want to know more so I can introduce you to an investor if I feel your company and you are worthwhile.
2. An investor who I consult with contacts me about your company and wants my opinion. Then I need to do my due diligence and that’s how I get it done.

I may work with you for a month or longer. Maybe I help you with customer service or setting up a community. Maybe you ask for financial advice?

The key thing I look for is to see if you are listening to me? I want to know if you will take advice from me ay my age and experience so I know if you will get along with my investor or investors?

What I am finding more and more are entrepreneurs on the younger side who discount us senior business. We may not all be experts especially in your niche, but believe in this, we can get everything we need to know to make a proper decision.

Especially when there are people like me out there who are willing to work for the heck of it. I’m retired I don’t need to get paid nor do I want to. I do this to protect investors and help them make good decisions and profitable ones.

I’m good at this and so far haven’t made a mistake on recommendations. I’ve come close, but the truth will always come out at some point.

My advice. Think before you write, speak or talk to others about us seniors business people. We can be really helpful to the right young entrepreneur, but also we can be a heel in your life at raising from others.