I am currently advising a group of young men to come together and start a technology-based business venture. There seems to be a roadblock each time I give them direction to implement, primarily one of the lead programmers/members who is gifted but very laid-back. How do I (a) get them working on something diligently and (b) help them start something with potential to generate SOME revenue quickly, whilst keeping costs down.

As an advisor, you can only do so much. If the founders aren’t working diligently or listening to good advice, then they are bound to fail anyway. It’s for this reason VCs and angels always talk about investing more in the people than the business itself. That being said, I find it’s often not the best strategy to simply tell someone what to do. Instead, I first help them identify short and medium-term objectives and then work with them create a plan to get there.

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