Questions

I love talking to beginner entrepreneurs who want to start a new business and listen to their thoughts and brainstorm ideas (a.k.a strategy sessions). I find those early stages thrilling and love the excitement of talking through a new idea with someone who is excited about it, bouncing ideas back and forth, and writing down final thoughts at the end. I like the idea of doing this as a part time consulting "side hustle", but I have no experience. I'm not well spoken, I have some "Ums" when I talk. But I just like listening to people and giving my opinion on things that could help them when I can. I do have a pleasant personality (I think) and am a good listener. However I have no experience in the real world. Can I get started as a "Professional listener" to small business beginners who want someone to listen to their idea and give feedback? I think I can just read books by good authors and repeat some of that knowledge to clients and that would be helpful to them. And join a Toastmasters group to communicate in a more polished way. I would love to offer short 30 minute Skype sessions to people. Any thoughts on how I could get started? My fear is to have clients ask questions that I can't answer, and them feel they wasted their time. I would be perfectly happy starting out for free to gain experience, or offering clients a free 15 minute trial to see if I'm a right fit for them. I love the idea that as years go by I'll get better and better and can seriously increase my income with more experience.

I think as others have said, that idea itself may not be quite right and you are looking to us to brainstorm. However, I do know someone who does exactly this, for free. He makes his money by facilitating the ability of others to think outside their proverbial boxes, using what at the core, is basically workshop facilitation. That's an easier sell than 'professional ear' as the market is kind of there already. You don't have to know much about the business to facilitate a workshop or coach per se, as you need to concentrate on the facilitation. Many people like me can't think and facilitate at the same time. :-D Especially if you're too close to the problem. So effectively you get called in ad hoc to facilitate workshops to allow all the firepower in the room to concentrate on the problem at hand. It doesn't mean you can't structure a session where you give advice at certain points or when asked. However, that risks exposure. You can always help by researching after the fact, where the team has found key questions they want answering. Write them on a post it and take them with you.

If you become a millionaire off these ideas. I'll take 10% ;)


Answered 8 years ago

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