Connecting the Dots

Week of 10/12 -10/19

So far on my startup journey, my team and I have successfully constructed a business plan and are currently getting ready for our final pitch in November. Winning this final pitch will show the progress we've made in developing our product and allow us to take the next steps. However, the big question I ask myself is "Where will we go next?" Furthermore, "Who will help guide us through the next steps?"

Conveniently, in the Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) program, I am currently building a contact list of professionals in my field that I can interview. Sounds easy right? Well, that is what I thought at first until I realized that I would have to connect with some of the busiest people in the workforce. However, I was able to connect with many entrepreneurs in my area through LinkedIn and through the iStart Valley accelerator, giving me some hope in getting an interview. Now you may ask, "What is the point of interviewing professionals?". If you recall from earlier, I mentioned that my team and I needed guidance on the next steps of our journey, and interviewing professionals in my field will help me determine who is the proper person to receive guidance from. In other words, I am interviewing professionals in search of a potential mentor. I consider this step as one of the biggest barriers I will have to cross since it's very difficult to contact an entrepreneur because almost all of the time, they have something scheduled that is of great importance. Contacting other entrepreneurs also requires me to be credible so that the professionals see me as a young professional rather than a typical high school student. Luckily, the ISM program teaches us how to connect with professionals in the proper manner through interviews, phone calls, and emails.

With the proper practice and preparation, I hope to utilize all the knowledge that ISM has taught me in connecting with professionals to boost my credibility and hopefully land some interviews. My goal for the coming weeks is to have contacted at least 10 professionals and have my interviews scheduled so I can receive guidance as soon as possible. With all my preparation thus far, I feel confident in connecting with the professional world of entrepreneurship and ready to make new connections.