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Robert Weiner, SCORE
SCORE: formerly Service Core of (not necessarily) Retired Executives – there are many wonderful opportunities to volunteer once you decide that you’re finished with your 9-5 job, but not all of these can make good use of your particular expertise. Robert Weiner found SCORE to be a good fit following his successful retail and manufacturing businesses. After selling his closet design business, he and a partner created a ladies’ shoe drawer, so he actually has experience in launching and building two successful businesses. However, he wasn’t ready to retire from ”work”, just from actually running the business. He found SCORE to be his answer. With 300 chapters in the USA and 10,000 volunteers he discovered an organization that makes excellent use of his skill set. SCORE volunteers offer advise to both start-up businesses as well as those who find themselves struggling. They also host seminars on topics such as taxes, bookkeeping, HR, PR, and other related matters. There is a network of referrals and expertise available that include lawyers, technology, retail, and accounting, to name a few. An example of how it works is that Robert would be asked to meet with someone who has a business idea or thinks they are ready to launch a business. He offers advise, poses questions they may not have thought of, and basically helps them prepare for a successful venture. He does feel, however, that the best advise he’s given has been NOT to start their business! Without a solid business plan and financial backing, many start-ups are doomed to fail. Want to see an example of a successful business that was guided by volunteers working with SCORE? Go to the The Curvy Bride website (www.curvybrides.com); it’s worth the visit. Want to know more about SCORE and volunteer opportunities (you need not be retired, by-the-way), go to monmouthscore.org.