Comments on: There Are Ways to Find Out About Your Industry http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2008/03/21/there-are-ways-to-find-out-about-your-industry/ Starting your business with growth in mind Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:16:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ken Pirok http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2008/03/21/there-are-ways-to-find-out-about-your-industry/#comment-1223 Ken Pirok Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:37:29 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2008/03/21/there-are-ways-to-find-out-about-your-industry/#comment-1223 The ASAE is the "association of associations." Go to their website, and you can search their database for a trade association of your industry. Likewise, TradePub.com lists publications for all types of trades. They're free; just sign up. The ASAE is the “association of associations.” Go to their website, and you can search their database for a trade association of your industry.

Likewise, TradePub.com lists publications for all types of trades. They’re free; just sign up.

]]> By: Ben http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2008/03/21/there-are-ways-to-find-out-about-your-industry/#comment-811 Ben Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:12:13 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2008/03/21/there-are-ways-to-find-out-about-your-industry/#comment-811 I remember a study on entrepreneurs who succeeded in the dry-clean business, comparing their different backgrounds. You'd think an Ivy League graduate would more likely succeed over a high school dropout (who had years of experience in the dry-clean business), but it wasn't: The folks with the experience, despite their backgrounds, had much likelier chances to succeed. So how do you get that experience? It's definitely a Catch-22, but the best route IMHO: Work in the industry first before you make it out on your own. For example, if you want to run a restaurant, work in a restaurant first. If you want to run a computer consulting company, work in a computer consulting company. If you want to run a design firm, work in a design firm. Get the experience needed until you understand the complexities of running a firm of the size (and in the industry) you want. I remember a study on entrepreneurs who succeeded in the dry-clean business, comparing their different backgrounds. You’d think an Ivy League graduate would more likely succeed over a high school dropout (who had years of experience in the dry-clean business), but it wasn’t: The folks with the experience, despite their backgrounds, had much likelier chances to succeed.

So how do you get that experience? It’s definitely a Catch-22, but the best route IMHO: Work in the industry first before you make it out on your own.

For example, if you want to run a restaurant, work in a restaurant first. If you want to run a computer consulting company, work in a computer consulting company. If you want to run a design firm, work in a design firm. Get the experience needed until you understand the complexities of running a firm of the size (and in the industry) you want.

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