Remember Where you Came From

When I got selected for the Meritorious Commissioning Program, I was at the rank of Sergeant and all my friends congratulated me and said “Ann, remember where you came from.” Remember life as an enlisted Marine…remember what it was like, so you will be the type of Officer the Corps needs the most. That’s what they were saying and it’s what I did.

Six years later, when I left the Marine Corps, as a Captain, my Marines wished me luck and said “Ma’am, remember where you came from and that we’re always here.” They meant that there was nothing in the civilian sector that could or would stop a Marine, and that the Corps and its ethos are always part of me and who I am.

There is no boot camp to forge someone into an entrepreneur, but there are rights of passage and it is one tough road to undertake. However, as I continue my research on finding Angel Investors and funding…I’ve come to wonder if some of them have forgotten where they came from. (This would be making the assumption that the majority are former entrepreneurs themselves.)

I’ve visited quite a few Angel Investor sites again, in the last two days, and been getting some emails from other types of organizations interested in learning more about us, so that we can present at their next conference. What gets me are the price tags attached to these “opportunities” to present. I’m going to compile a list and post it in the next couple of days, but I wanted to get this post out.

Obviously, some of these folks have forgotten what it’s like to be a start-up entrepreneur. If I had a couple thousand dollars to over $10,000 laying around for every presentation that struck my fancy…I obviously wouldn’t need YOU in the first place. The little money we have is better spent on the things that create progress and get us closer to launching our product. Why spend it on potential opportunities to present to a room full of supposedly investors, that come with no guarantees?? I mean, come on…what is this all about?!!? Being an entrepreneur is about taking risks and chances, but not about being flat out dumb and careless with the few assets you do have.

Remember where you came from…it seems that some of these investors out there have forgotten that at some point in time, someone came along and they cut them their break. And that someone who cut them a break…got wealthier off of them in the process.

I do want to say a BIG THANK YOU to the entrepreneurs following this blog, who have been in our shoes not long ago, and are going out of their ways to try to help us. Erik, Ed and Alain your interest in us and support is much appreciated.

Meanwhile, I’ll ponder the age old question…what came first, the chicken or the egg. I mean, what came first…the entrepreneur or the investor? One cannot go on without the other.

I’m going to see the movie premier of The Call of the Entrepreneur tonight. I’m really looking forward to it. Best part is going to be being in a theater filled with other entrepreneurs and like minded individuals. We’re going to the VIP after party afterwards, and I can’t wait to chat it up, I’m sure I’ll have much to blog about!!