Yesterday, I met a very smart and successful mentor for drinks at a cool restaurant overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica. We got to talking about what’s next for me and he asked how he could help. It’s funny but for all the intense focus and exact plans I have with my work, I honestly couldn’t answer. The television project I’ve been working on? Books? The new little startup I’ve been talking about lately? It was a pretty big person asking, so it’s a pretty big question to respond to. I asked if I could have a week to answer.
I thought about it a lot on the way home, that is, after I ran my car out of gas (I’m such an idiot. I hate to go to the gas station), and I realized that what I really needed help with was how to make what I’m already doing happen faster, bigger and better. I think I can sell a television show, three books, and the new start-up I’ve been thinking about. I know I can write the script I want to someday sell to Participant media. I believe I can keep speaking at conferences, and that my experience and knowledge in tech and other things could make me a good guest for television (which can help sell the books). I’m already doing most of it on my own now. When I really thought about it, what I need is support, people smarter and more experienced in my corner on a constant basis to help guide/direct on ideas, open doors and lend experience as needed, so that I can maximize what I can do and in turn, all will hopefully benefit. Just like you see with a lot of start-up businesses, as I had with Stylediary, but for all this other stuff instead.
What’s interesting is that a lot of the women entrepreneurs I know actually have this in husbands and boyfriends, where the men in their life play a big role in their businesses. I definitely wouldn’t mind having a smart, connected, business-minded boyfriend, but in the meantime, I’m going to start looking at myself as a startup, and work to find a team of specific, experienced advisors to help try to make ideas happen. I think it can only help.
