Entrepreneurship can be an incredibly lonely journey. As business owners, we often find ourselves wearing multiple hats—handling marketing, sales, hiring, client fulfillment, and growth strategies all at once. Even with a team, the weight of major decisions and challenges falls squarely on our shoulders.
When your line of credit gets denied, when you’re drowning in debt, when you have to let go of team members, or when a major client says no—who do you turn to? For many small business owners, there’s no obvious answer. These moments of struggle often remain private battles we fight alone.
Why External Perspective Matters
I’ve learned that no successful business is built in isolation. Even world-class athletes have coaches. Top entertainers have mentors and directors. As entrepreneurs, we need outside perspective to grow beyond our limitations.
This is where I’ve found immense value in something called a “business hot seat”—a structured opportunity to get input, advice, and perspective from fellow entrepreneurs who understand your challenges because they’ve faced similar ones themselves.
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What Exactly Is a Hot Seat?
A hot seat is different from traditional coaching or masterminding. It’s a focused session where you present a specific challenge or question to a group of fellow business owners, and they provide immediate feedback, solutions, and perspectives.
The format typically works like this:
- A small group (ideally 10-20 people) gathers, either virtually or in person
- You “take the hot seat” by presenting your specific business challenge
- Other entrepreneurs ask clarifying questions and offer insights
- A moderator ensures the conversation stays productive and on-track
- You walk away with multiple perspectives and potential solutions
I’ve participated in numerous hot seats through Traffic Sales and Profit, led by Lamar Tyler, and the experience has been invaluable for my business growth.
The Unique Value of Peer Feedback
What makes hot seats particularly powerful is the diversity of perspectives. When I ask a question about Facebook ads in front of 20 entrepreneurs, several will have direct experience to share. If I’m debating whether to hire or fire someone, I’m guaranteed to hear from others who’ve navigated similar decisions.
The beauty of this format is that participants don’t need to be experts in your specific industry. A lawyer can get valuable hiring advice from a web developer. A marketing agency can learn customer retention strategies from a retail store owner. Business principles often transcend industry boundaries.
Doesn’t mean they’re right. Doesn’t mean all of it you have to accept. But, man, when you ask a question about Facebook ads in front of 20 people, I bet three or four of those people can give you good answers.
Beyond Google and AI
Yes, we can ask AI chatbots for advice. We can watch YouTube videos and read articles. But there’s something uniquely valuable about real-time human feedback from people who’ve been in the trenches.
Hot seats provide:
- Emotional support from people who understand entrepreneurial challenges
- Personalized advice tailored to your specific situation
- Accountability that technology simply can’t offer
- Relationship-building with potential collaborators and mentors
I’ve personally benefited from mentors like Lamar Tyler and Yakov Yurinsky, along with my business coach LaShelle. These relationships have been instrumental in my growth as an entrepreneur and speaker.
Taking Action
If you’ve never experienced a hot seat, I strongly encourage you to seek out this opportunity. Look for entrepreneur groups, mastermind communities, or coaching programs that incorporate this format. The investment will pay dividends in clarity, confidence, and concrete business solutions.
Remember that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. When we open ourselves to feedback and perspective from others who understand our challenges, we gain access to a wealth of collective wisdom that can help us overcome obstacles and reach new heights in our businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is a hot seat different from a regular mastermind group?
While mastermind groups typically involve ongoing peer support and accountability, a hot seat is a more focused format where one person presents a specific challenge and receives concentrated feedback from the group. Hot seats are often a component within mastermind programs but have a distinct structure and purpose.
Q: Do I need to be at a certain business level to benefit from a hot seat?
Not at all. Entrepreneurs at any stage can benefit from hot seats. Whether you’re just starting out or running a multi-million dollar company, getting fresh perspectives on your challenges can provide valuable insights. The key is finding a group with some members who are a step or two ahead of you on the journey.
Q: How do I find hot seat opportunities if I don’t know of any?
Look for business coaching programs, industry-specific communities, or entrepreneurial organizations in your area. Many chambers of commerce, small business development centers, and online communities offer hot seat sessions. You can also create your own by gathering a small group of trusted business owners and establishing a simple structure for giving and receiving feedback.
Q: How should I prepare for my turn in the hot seat?
Come with a specific, well-defined challenge or question rather than a general discussion topic. Be prepared to provide relevant context quickly, and stay open to feedback that might challenge your assumptions. The most value comes when you’re transparent about your situation and receptive to diverse perspectives, even if they differ from what you expected to hear.
Photo by; John Thomas on Unsplash