Being a business owner isn’t for the faint of heart.

It only takes a few weeks as an all-in, first-time business owner to realize that you’re in for a different kind of experience.

So, you’re new to business ownership?

As a new business owner, you might fall for the #1 mistake: you try to do everything…by yourself. You leave the structure of a 9-5 job and push out into a vast, open, uncharted sea. The siren call of freedom or wealth may have lured you into this career path, but it can leave you shipwrecked. After a year, maybe two, you realize that your decision to set out on your own means just that: you’re on your own. No one else seems to understand the issues you’re facing—not your significant other, nor your family, nor your friends. Launching a business can be a profoundly isolating experience.

But it doesn’t have to be. What if you could access a group of trusted friends who understand what you’re facing? They’re there to point you back on course when you lose your bearings. They’re able to offer insightful counsel based on their experiences from their own voyages—without sounding confused, preachy, or trite. The right kind of support is worth its weight in gold. That’s why you should consider joining a peer advisory group. These groups go by many names. Not all groups are created equal. The best ones have a balance of issue processing and learning—facilitated by a trained professional and who has experience running their own business. Those groups don’t cost you money—they make you money, because a strategic investment in yourself and your business will generate a return that covers the membership fees five, 10 or 20 times over. If you’re still trying to solve problems on your own, it’s time to call for help. Set up a conversation with me to explore if my peer advisory group is right for you, and to schedule your complementary visit.

You do have a business coach, right?

Entrepreneurship is too demanding a road to travel without serious support. If you don’t already have support from a coach, don’t wait. You chose the career path of business ownership—now work with a coach who is experienced in coaching business owners. Working with me lets you invest deeply in yourself and your business—making sure your business and career stay on track. If you’re looking for this kind of support, get in touch to discuss one-on-one coaching.

Oh, you haven’t started your business yet?

But you’re considering it. Perhaps it’s a career aspiration of yours. You are striving for something wonderful—and possibly the greatest challenge you have faced yet. New business owners in pre-launch mode have a variety of challenges, all of which can sink your new venture. One of the greatest needs for a new business owner is support and guidance—often more than they can immediately pay for out of their fledgeling company’s revenue. If you’re looking at launching a business in the next 1-2 years (or sooner), take advantage of your current paycheck as much as possible. Save as much as possible while learning the skills you need (especially sales, marketing, and business development). Gain your mentors and sources of support early—you won’t regret it. Even consider what kind of line of credit you will need and what you’ll do if you have to wind down your business. The biggest challenge of a new business is to reach profitability, and many businesses run out of road before they can hit that milestone, which sometimes takes years longer than expected. You still want to brave these waters? Set up a conversation to explore what resources you may need to get started.

Wait, you’ve been at this a long time?

Perhaps you’re looking for something…different. There are a legion of experienced coaches out there. I may not be a fit to support you as an executive coach. If you want to meet one of the older, more experienced coaches in my network, feel free to ask me for an introduction. But if you’re running one of those kinds of organizations ($10-$30M in annual revenue or higher), you must developing the next generation of leaders within your company. Your young professionals of today will be your executives of tomorrow. To learn more about how you can invest in their leadership development through Cochran Coaching LLC, visit this page for executives.