Yes, this happened to me when I started with SCORE. I think it is difficult for retired executives to listen to a small business’s dysfunction. They cannot fix everything, so they prefer to make one point and get off the phone.

SCORE is serious about tracking their mentors’ performance, and the way their survey is worded, a mentor succeeds if they help you in one way. I think they also have a KPI for scheduling a 2nd meeting after a 1st.

Also, they are pretty old. When people get old, they either go full Zen or their anger is the only thing keeping them alive!

I volunteered at SCORE for a while. It’s a hit or miss. You get what you pay for. Most of the SCORE mentors are oldschool and not caught up with the times. Be careful what advice you take, I sat with a mentor one time and watched as he gave advice that I knew was not correct. Can be a useful tool if you ask the right questions and match with the right person.

What do Score mentors get out of this?

When I started my company I went to SCORE and met with a couple of retired execs. Super nice guys in their 80s, but they could not wrap their head around our business. They meant well, but I don’t know what the vetting process for SCORE volunteers is.

You got what you paid for. I’d prefer to use my time to either hire a professional or build the business.

I thought Reddit was for telling you what to do.

I’ve been consultant for 23 years.

Not everyone has the patience to work with beginners or new-to-industry.

Also, you are not getting mentor at SCORE, you are getting a coach.

A mentor is someone you establish a trusting relationship with and sticks with you until you can stand on your own two feet.

You are not going to get that at SCORE.

In most cases, you can look within your industry for resources to help start up a business.

For example, trade associations offer their member’s educational programs and start up guides, business plan templates, buyer guides, etc.

Suppliers to an industry often work with their clients to help define trade areas, prepare pro forma analysis, etc.

My SCORE experience years ago was a good one. Very nice guys!

I find that there are nice people at SCORE and it’s a great resource for general business info. But although they may have had successful corporate careers, many of them have never had a business.

I have found over time. Having run through a whole host of businesses. That mentors and coaches have a specific value. Their best purpose is helping someone with NO businesses experience, but significant industry experience takes over a business. Think mechanic buying his bosses shop. The mechanic knows the trade but does not understand a business. So a mentor or a coach can outline specific steps with specific criteria to get them over the finish line and staying afloat until the mechanic understands business well enough to tailor their approach to their business.

But if you’re looking to start a business from scratch, especially with a non traditional product or service, you’re much better off meeting up with other actively building entrepreneurs.

And the people I most vehemently run from are those who are trying to become investors. I typically have a pretty innovative approach in my new businesses and active investors might claim to love it, but fuck do they try to mold the product themselves. No thanks. I’d rather take the money from a bank and build out the idea myself.