It could be suggested that some people don't really want advice, even when they ask for it... but in my opinion if you have a start up company, getting advice is one of the best things that you can do and can often be the difference between success or failure. Also, trusted advisors can often point you in the right direction and open doors for you, and certainly save you a lot of time.

I'm regularly asked by start up companies, other commercial consultants and blue chip companies for advice and I'll often do my best to help and give as much of a relevant, accurate information that I can, and most of these groups respect the fact that I have a lot of knowledge and experience to share. But occassionally, I ask myself where do I draw the line? I've learnt over the years on my own entrepreneurial journey that there are so many people willing to help you, but you can't take advantage of their goodwill.

I had a conversation a few days ago with a really good designer friend of mine, he told me that he was asked to look at a few prototypes and designs for a friend, he did this without hesitation, but this took him several hours and there was no appreciation of the amount of time that he invested into helping. What may seem like a 2 minute job to the individual that's asking is never the case - it just seems this way as the indivudual you asked has so much knowledgde and expertise they make it look easy.

Where am I going with this? Well, I will help anybody, I mentor many clients and this takes a huge amount of my time, and I often think based upon a recent expereince that I had with a client, that they totally misunderstood what mentoring is all about. This individual cancelled a meeting with me until I told her exactly what experience I had to enable her and her team to achieve something. I know the other individual that they were working with and I think they thought they could use me as I'd be less expensive - really bad call there! Mentors, are there to advise, support and guide - not to be a member of your team that you dump all of your inabilities and failings on. Ask yourself why have you been given a mentor? because you need their expertise and help.

Christina Wallace, Director of Startup Institute NY and Former Co-founder of Quincy suggests the following Find the Balance, with the community, give before you get. Do deep research for your ideas, but trust your instincts. Actively seek guidance, but know the advice often conflicts, so you need your own conviction. With product, think expansively, then pair it back to basics. Be proud of what you build, though there will never be perfection. Be aware of competition, but don't worry about it. Be direct with your team, but always kind, empathetic, and self-aware. Understand that maybe the world doesn't need your idea, so know when to move on. Luck and resilience are as important as ideas and talent. Don't believe your own press, good or bad. Don't take yourself too seriously, even if you're trying to change the world. Never lose sight of the important stuff: love, friends, family. Great advice, be kind, empathetic and self - aware here here!

Shaun Johnson, Co-founder and COO of Start-up Institute suggests this too, which in my opinion is also great advice, Show, don't tell' is a dynamic axiom, but it's such a good one. For start-ups, being evidentiary about your value proposition is huge. So many upstarts talk about being the Facebook Killer, or the X for Y, loftily and prematurely positioning them among mega successes. Talking instead about what your company does and has achieved sets the stage for your vision in a way that is authentic, believable, and much less highfalutin. Always be a producer of value, so you can highlight current and translatable proof of what you factually can do versus what you aspire to become. Also great advice, It's very tempting to be a little over zealous with what you say about your business, I found myself being guilty of that too, until it was pointed out to me, but remember when it's online it's online. Also remember what do you actually achieve by having your face in every single newspaper, local TV show, every single meeting going? Are you really working smart - all of these things cost in terms of time, money and spirit - are they worth the return that you'll get by taking part? Is a good question to ask yourself.

All I ask, is get in touch of course, I'd be delighted to help - but please respect the fact that I've worked very hard to get where I am to be able to offer advice, I have a mortgage and children and I'm self funding my own enterpreneurial journey as my business offering does not qualify for grants, I'm not attached to a university and what I am trying to do is really expensive. I'm making significant progress,but when I'm pulled away from paid works to give you my advice for free, the only person that is negatively affected is me.

Be respectful of your experts, mentors, advisors, whomever they may be - I really appreciate everyone that gives me advice and they know it too!