Howdy ?
My name is Andrew McIntosh.
I started my own business in 2006 and was the first person in my family to do so.
Because of that, I was faced with a few hard realities from the start:
- I didn’t grow up at the dinner table learning how to start and grow a business
- My parents weren’t able to connect with me a team of advisors, or help me get my first few customers
- I didn’t have deep pockets with which I could experiment on different business ideas
The result?
When I went out on my own, I truly felt like I was on my own.
And honestly… that wasn’t very fun.
I made a ton of costly mistakes that set me back.
And it wasn’t just money.
Those mistakes cost me time, headache and even heartache ?
Those mistakes could have largely been avoided if I’d had access to the mentorship and support I so badly needed. The kind of built-in mentorship that a 2nd or 3rd gen entrepreneur might enjoy.
What changed?
After I’d been in business for about six years, I could finally afford to hire a business coach.
It was a game changer!
I finally had the mentorship I was looking for. I had someone who:
- Made me feel safe
- Gave me the confidence to keep pushing
- Helped me see the things I simply couldn’t see on my own
- and much more
I would absolutely recommend hiring a business coach as soon as you can afford it.
But that’s the rub: I couldn’t afford it. At least not for the first five years or so.
For me, it was over $1,000/month (and that was over a decade ago).
I can’t help but wonder: what if I had that type of coaching from the start? Could it have put me on a different trajectory? I think so.
That’s where this community comes in.
Looking back, I would have jumped at the opportunity to belong to a group of entrepreneurs who:
- Thought like me
- Understood what I was going through
- Could offer the advice, support and mentorship I was sorely lacking
My mission
In 2021, after 15 years of blood, sweat, tears and wild rollercoasters… I ended up selling my business.
So my particular story has a happy ending.
But could it have gone smoother? Could I have made fewer mistakes? Could I have made more money?
Yes, yes and yes.
Now that I am in the next stage of my career, I want to democratize the coaching, support & mentorship that is frequently out of reach for 1st Gen Entrepreneurs.
I’m not looking to build an exclusive club. In fact, I want to do the opposite.
I would to build an inclusive community where entrepreneurs come together and help each other out.
Each of us has our own area of expertise.
None of us know everything, all of us know something.
If we each bring something to the picnic, and seek to positively impact the lives of our fellow members, everybody wins.
I want to help other 1st Gen Entrepreneurs beat the odds, because let’s face it, the cards are stacked against you.
I want to help you survive the first five years in business (where you’re statistically most likely to fail) and thrive from year six onward.
Entrepreneurship can reward you with freedom of time, money, location and much more.
Together, we can help you get there.
Thanks for taking the time to read my miniature autobiography ?
If there’s anything I can do to assist you in your journey, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Let’s get to work!
-Andrew
