Life is our greatest teacher; and experience are its most valuable lessons. During the early years of our entrepreneurial journey, what we lack in experience we often make up in grit; but for the fortunate few who are able to stand on the shoulders of an experienced mentor, they find their learning dramatically amplified. Look closely and you’ll notice that behind every great visionary is a mentor – someone who’s not only a trusted advisor; but more of a personal confidant who’s there to share perspective.
Take for example, the early days of Salesforce.com; Marc Benioff leaned often on Steve Jobs; and said, “Steve has probably given me more help and more advice than just anybody. When I get in trouble, and when I get lost in my own vision, I’ve been fortunate to go and see him and he’s been able to show me the future a couple of times when I got lost in the forest from the trees.”
The one certainty that we know about starting a business is that no one will succeed alone – it’s a team sport, and those involved with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center have figured out how to win. Under the direction of Michael Burcham, they’ve launched almost 80 startups by following this formula ——-