STEVEN HAHN DIRECTOR OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SYSTEMS SPARTANBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A ENTREPRENEUR
ll successful entrepreneurs have a few things in common. Creativity, vision, courage, determination and a few brain cells. The one character that seems to separate the great ones from the “mom and pops,” and perhaps the most important trait of all, is the ability and willingness to listen. Most successful ventures can trace their ultimate victory to a few critical moments when a pieces of direction—from outside of their own cranium—catapulted their projects to higher levels. These businesses all seem to garner strength from sources, both internal and external, that are willing to help with new ideas, tempered advice and guidance. Given the pervasive penchant for hospitality that the South is so famous for, it is no mystery that the entrepreneurial community in Upstate South Carolina is comprised of a wealth of highly skilled and experienced mentors who happily go out of their way to help budding entrepreneurs. In fact, it is safe to state that there are more valuable mentors in our midst than there are viable startup projects. Mentors and advisors give their time and energy to satisfy one single objective within themselves. The simple human desire to share their knowledge and experiences with others in the hopes that they may help someone else achieve their goals. Yet, time and time again, the message never reaches the person to whom it is directed. The attempt to effectively convey solid advice to a needy project is too
MENTOR V. ENTREPRENEUR: COMMUNICATION GAP About the author...
Steven Hahn is a former partner in a management consulting firm, and has launched several successful businesses. He presently serves as the Director of Entrepreneurial Systems at the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce.
often hampered by an unfortunate shortcoming in human communication. It becomes a classic case of a flawed system of delivery. Surely, the advice may sometimes be irrelevant, but, in many cases, the entrepreneur is simply not listening. Riddled with misinformation, myth, a lack of specific experience and trapped by a vision much too rigid and narrow for its own good, the entrepreneur is stubbornly unable to comprehend the immense value of the suggestion at hand. A concept can become enormously stronger, an organization more efficient, and a strategy more fruitful when seasoned with expertise, experience and the valuable lessons of trial-and-failure. This is not to suggest a blind following of any and all advice. But, once the source of the opinion has been adequately vetted, it would be wise to rein back one’s obstinacy and consider deeply the guidance of trusted advisors. Determination and vision are essential to the accomplishment of any goal, but good ole’ bullheadedness often keeps the entrepreneur from ever realizing the great financial potential of a solid business idea. Dear entrepreneurs, Your advisors have already been where you are going; they have found those solutions that work— and more importantly those that don’t. Like it or not, they are right more times than not. Sometimes, all you have to do is to listen.
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