The Most Important Thing You Can Do To Find Investors For Your Project

By Michael Roderick  -  On 28 Apr, 2014 -  0 comments

Stop calling them investors.

One of the worst things you can do to someone of means is to make them feel like they are nothing more than an ATM. And yet, hundreds of people make this mistake every day.

If you want to find support for your project, that support is going to come from a place of trust. But trust isn’t built off of documents and business plans; trust is built on getting to know someone and participating in a legitimate exchange of value.

Stop asking for money and, instead, ask for help.

There are plenty of people out there willing to help you with your project either by giving their time, making introductions, or providing you with resources. If you approach conversations with potential investors from a place of, “This is the challenge this project is facing and I’d love your help in solving it!” rather than, “My project needs money, can you give it to me?” you’ll find that there will be more of a give and take as your relationship grows. By letting potential investors know that what they have to say is valuable to you, you’re starting a dialogue that will more likely lead to a fruitful relationship.

If you spend too much time chasing “investors” instead of building relationships with real people you’ll find that less gets done. So, if you are looking at a project that you need to get off the ground, don’t ask where the investors are.

Ask where the people who can help are and, most importantly:

What can you do for THEM?

Excelsior!