Get Your Family And Friends Behind You

New entrepreneurs often struggle to establish their businesses as they are not getting the support they need. Sometimes it is not only the obvious support of sponsors and supply change designers which is lacking –but also not having that critical “home-ground support” can harmfully affect the success of your venture. How can family and friends support entrepreneurs?
Entering the market as a newbie businessperson is a brave step, and having your family and friends share in your vision for achievement is critical.  Once you have convinced them that being an entrepreneur is in fact “a real job” – one that requires a lot more ransoms and hard work than a salaried worker – you can continue to encourage them to support your journey, to ultimately share in your success.

Finding Out Who Your Real Friends Are
Financial support is the most obvious support needed by entrepreneurs due to a lack of capital and start-up funding, as well as uneven payments and long periods of being cashless due to procurement holdups and fluctuation in the market for your product or service. Not everyone will stick with you in these times – and that’s OK. You may end up finding out who your real friends are, and these are the people who will give you emotional and social support to keep you focused and motivated.

“I know A Guy….”
Another issue is friends and family looking for discounted prices as they know the owner. This means that they don’t see the value of the product or service, nor do they respect the owner. By asking for products and services for free, or at a reduced price, they end up taking benefit of their relationship with the entrepreneur and do not financially support his/her the business.

So, if you have friends or family who are business owners, set an example by supporting them in the following ways:

• Be willing to pay the full price of the product or service offered.
• Be kind when giving negative feedback – make sure it is constructive.
• Compliment them on good products or service. Share positive reviews on your social media pages.
• Share and promote their business among other people.
• Be patient and willing to help them establish their businesses.

Be prepared to listen to their dreams, hopes and frustrations. Sometimes, they just need an ear to vent about a bad day. Support them with a word of encouragement to keep going.