Help making money - PH TV&S 1st Tuesday Club (idea)

Help making money - PH TV&S 1st Tuesday Club (idea)

TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED
Author
Discussion

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Gentleman/Ladies

I have been toying with an idea for some time and just wanted run it by y'all:

As well as working like a dog on my day job I have also set up and run various business side ventures over the past few years, for various reasons, including most recently to give my parents a supplementary boost to their pension/s, help mates pursue business ideas they might have been kicking around and to which I can add something, however small that might be (usual writing proposals). Of course most of this 'business development' is a fairly solitary thing, evenings and weekends much to the annoyance of course of my long suffering wife.

Anyway, years ago I remember reading Think and Grow Rich, and the only thing I remember about it was that that it mentioned the importance of a 'Mastermind Group'. A bunch of people who met regularly and discussed, helped, cajoled, inspired, wound up their fellow entrepreneurs over tea/buscuits/beers. I was thinking that anyone involved in either running, developing or just considering setting up a business probably has lots of stuff they could share and be happy to contribute ideas, help others get around 'challenges' (to use business-speak) that others have. We all have connections that might be helpful to others and no doubt give perspectives from other industries that might cross-fertilise.

I was thinking of starting a 'First Tuesday PH Business Club', at my house and maybe then rotating around various people's places depending on who offers a kitchen table and refreshments, on a monthly (1st Tues) basis. The plan would be a kind of 'tell others your story, what difficulties you're facing, get feedback', move to next person - session, for about a couple of hours say, after dinner 8pm - 10pm, maybe at a house followed by beers down the local. The idea being of course to help everyone make more money, get ideas off the ground etc, every little helps n all that.

What do you think?

john_r

8,353 posts

277 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
hewlett said:
What do you think?
I've been an originating partner and gone on to successfully sell two business in the last 6 years, as well as helping a couple of other friends to start up - one of which is going particularly well: http://www.fishfurfeather.com/

In my experience the greatest challenge is for people to understand that to make the ideas happen and stand any chance of getting anywhere they'll need to deliver on commitments. Nothing worse than meeting up a month later and people have not had time, or been too busy at work or home to complete the actions they volunteered for...

Always up for some entrepreneurial spirit... as long as it's focussed though, i.e. meeting in a pub is probably not a good idea! hehe

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Excellent, sounds like you could be a perfect founding member then smile I'm certainly guilty of needing the proverbial kick up the rear end that a ''so how did you get on with those things you were going to do'' question each month, would provide. Well done on what you've achieved btw. Perhaps then a meet at the house with an optional beer afterward and maybe some casual minutes/action points to keep everything on track month to month would be worthwhile then?

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
All welcome and if you don't want any of my patent pending bus shaped biscuits for kids, I could probably get some Rich Tea in for you smile

Kinky

39,784 posts

275 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
A great idea thumbup

Count me in for sureyes

I'll bring the chocolate hobnobs thumbup

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

222 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
I love the idea however I'm not sure how much of an input I would be able to offer.

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Coolio, don't worry about contributing btw, there's probably plenty of spare ideas to go around!


john_r

8,353 posts

277 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Robatr0n said:
I love the idea however I'm not sure how much of an input I would be able to offer.
Errr, tosh! You work in a client facing and production environment - it doesn't matter if it's printing or jet engines, the principles of production are the same... biggrin

Edited by john_r on Wednesday 11th March 19:28

pernod

434 posts

194 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Ah, the lunar men...

Count me in... I don't have ideas actually under way at the moment, but I do have plenty that I should really make a concrete start on at some point ;-)

For the record, my speciality is marketing and "product" development/design.

Edited by pernod on Wednesday 11th March 19:30

angryS3owner

15,855 posts

235 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
I'd be interested, I'm not that much help but can probably 'manage' the drinking after hehe

I really do need to do something for myself at some point as I'm not sure I can deal with being an employee my whole life.

John D.

18,406 posts

215 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Cool idea Steve cool

I certainly intend to get rich at some point wink Not sure what I'd contribute mind. Still finding my way so to speak.

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Wednesday 11th March 2009
quotequote all
Excellent, I have easily enough chairs for all who've responded so far so I'll send out a PM nearer to the 1st Tuesday in April giving my address/mobile number to all.

Cheers

Steve

theboyfold

11,020 posts

232 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
me me! I'm certainly very keen to be involed. Currently only working 3 days a week, so should be able to offer some time and energy. Plus seems like a good way to get to know more of you.

VerySideways

10,243 posts

278 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
scratchchin

Kinky

39,784 posts

275 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
Come on Pete - you'd be JUST the man thumbup

MINIrocket

3,267 posts

216 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
I'm up for coming too, although I have been trying to complete a web based business project for well over a year now... and i'm still falling into the "too busy" to get the stuff done trap. Partly as i'm trying to do it on the cheap, so have to accept the crap timescales involved.
That said, i've been busy buying cars so it's not all bad! biggrin

I'd certainly be interested to speak to others who've been succesful in raising funding and have successfully got the business off the ground on the back of it.

Any room at the inn? Will promise to test out the bus shaped biscuits yum

hewlett

Original Poster:

2,186 posts

227 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
With the potential for:

1. john r
2. dizee
3. kinky
4. robatron
5. pernod
6. angrys3
7. john d
8. theboyfold
9. verysideways
10. minirocket
11. hewlett

attending we might have to look at alternative locations.

Maybe I'll write a basic agenda kind of:
8 pm kick off
1. Intros to talk about everyone's backgrounds, skills, contacts (5 mins).
2. Round the table: 'I have/would like to get XX off the ground', get feedback/suggestions and action points for the next meeting. (60 - 90 mins).
3. Finish and beers. (until closing time perhaps).
4. I'll type up there and then a basic actions list, email it around and have it printed for the next meeting.

Thoughts?

Edited by hewlett on Thursday 12th March 14:50

Kinky

39,784 posts

275 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
Works for me smile

Although without getting too stuffy or formal about everything, I do think that we'd need to set some groundrules; and also someone who would take notes, etc, etc, etc.

K

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

309 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
Room for one more?

VerySideways

10,243 posts

278 months

Thursday 12th March 2009
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:
Room for one more?
yes!!
TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED