I recently found myself at a dinner with a self-proclaimed “ex-entrepreneur.” That’s right. Once was, but never again will be an entrepreneur. The label made me laugh, and I had to learn more.

She started a business with a friend based on what they both loved: people, food, and wine. Having been so established in the region as an event planner and fundraiser, and her friend as an accomplished chef, it was easy for the duo to start a boutique catering business that served intimate parties throughout the area. Only three months and $30,000 in, her business partner/friend (she would interject here and say, “she WAS a friend”) ran off with the money and moved to another state, leaving her with bookings that she could no longer fulfill on her own. I asked her what she would have done differently, and she said, “A background check on my own friend. But, c’mon, who would have thought to do that?!”

There are so many components and moving parts to a business, whether it is a one-man shop selling baseball cards in town, or a corporation serving thousands of people each day. As entrepreneurs, we have to know our strengths and weaknesses, and we have to use our resources wisely. Know your surroundings, ask for help when you need it, and ask for help even when you don’t think you need it. There are so many resources available to you, just like the team at Braathe Enterprises, to make sure that you have the knowledge and courage to excel in your business, no matter what stage you’re at.

I asked her again, more seriously, “Really, what would you do differently if you had to do it again?”

“Expect the best, but prepare for the worst.”

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