A founder who started a company in 2004 without outside help felt isolated and pulled in conflicting directions. When a coach finally said "I'm on your side," it changed everything. Allison Maslan, with 40 years in business, explains why entrepreneurs need advocates from day one.
With this company, knowing what you know now, what would you maybe have done differently?
If I had known what I know now, I would have brought in a coach, an advisor, and an incredible attorney in 2004. I didn't have anybody protecting me, anybody on my side, anybody with my interest outside of the company, outside of what they could make from me. So by the end, I had a lot of people who had a lot to gain or lose if they wanted to see it that way from me. Everyone was pulling me in totally different directions, and that was incredibly difficult. And once I found, you know, my, my coach, the first thing he said to me is, I'm on your side. And I broke down because nobody had ever said that to me before. I was out on my own island and pushing and running so hard to bring this company into fruition and get it off the runway that I just didn't have anybody on my side.
Yeah, so important. I mean, I've been in business 40 years and I have a coach too, so it's— yeah, and it's what we do. I'm so passionate about it.