Strategies: Entrepreneurs, don't go it alone ... especially now

— -- You don't have to go it alone. You can find a great deal of help — much of it free — whether you're transitioning to self-employment (sorry about your layoff!), facing new challenges in your existing business (sorry about the economy!) or hoping to start or expand a company (yes, you can do it!).

Over the years, I've noticed one big difference between successful entrepreneurs and those who fail is that successful people seek out good advice and listen to it. That's not the only difference, of course, but I've known lots of business people who think they're smart enough and know it all, but they aren't and they don't. Inevitably, those are the ones who have the most difficulty navigating change.

These are challenging times for small businesses, so it's more important than ever to get help. Here are some outstanding sources:

•Small Business Development Centers:I'm listing these first, because I think SBDCs are one of the country's best-kept secrets and a terrific source of excellent quality help. In fact, I was once a client.

There are roughly 1000 SBDC centers across the US, many of them located at community colleges. They provide in-depth one-on-one counseling to nearly a million entrepreneurs a year. Since SBDCs are funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, by law, this counseling is free!

At an SBDC, you can also take low-cost classes and workshops — to help you learn how to keep your books, do your marketing, create a business plan. SBDC offices also have libraries of business information and research sources.

I know many SBCD counselors and go to their annual conference each year. Most are experienced business people, such as former owners or bankers. who've gone through education and training to help small companies. They're dedicated, hard-working, and love helping entrepreneurs succeed. It's probably the best use of your tax money you'll ever find. Take advantage of your local SBDC.