the goose

I really like the Bizcamp concept. I have met some great people through it and the grass roots feel makes the advice proffered that much more believable.  On the other hand, I think the presentations can be even better.  Specifically, and selfishly, I’d like to see less …

• talk about funding / support ‘grants’:  Most businesses are not suitable for funding.  Biznik send me an email recently claiming than less that 1/1oth of a percent of their surveyed businesses had venture funding.  The funding industry loves these type of events but it can be overdone.  While funding is great for some it is a worrying distraction for most at a time when really it should be all about sales.
• ‘professionals’ pimping pro services: I’m all for selling but I’d actually rather get my accountancy advice from another entrepreneur (eugh – I hate that word) than someone who makes their way in the world be selling hours.

and more …

• The nuts and bolts of business: Rather than a panel discussion on how to raise money – lets have a panel discussison of entrepeneurs on the nuts and bolts of business (sales, accountancy solutions, dealings with the reveneu etc).  Already successful business people how have managed to crack some of the boring every day business or making a buck.
• Guerilla tactics: Personally  – I’m not so interested in what I should do to build a successful business.  I’m more interested in what I can do. I want to hear case studies and examples of how people managed to get the most out of the system or pull off a sales coup by using a little inginuity.  There should be a type of parliamentary privilege applied so that people don’t need to watch their P’s and Q’s too much.
• Debates: Debates are great for pulling out little gems of advice.  How about funding vs bootstrapping or building a business vs building a lifestyle.

Of course – I can’t be there for this years event but if I can’t spout supposed advice from a stage I can at least do it from here.