If your belief is that begging, borrowing and offering crumbs in return for others’ free time, money and energy, is a sound policy for your business growth, think again.

Irrespective of the size of your organisation or your material success, you are only going to be someone else’s priority if what is in it for them is tangible, meaningful and immediate.

There is a reason why nominal equity or remuneration on success is offered in return for extensive immediate “help”, the probability of success is remote and so is paying up. The other party wants you and your balance sheet to de-risk their business growth, nothing more. Treat offers with extreme caution and realism.