You may have heard of the TV show "Dragon's Den". It plays in the U.K., and Canada. Think of it like American Idol, except you're pitching for venture capital for your business. I went prepared to get beaten up if I didn't know my business stuff. But this was extraordinary - I didn't even get to make my pitch! It would be like an Idol not getting to sing, but just subjected to "who do you think you are" type questions! Oy vey! Glad it's done. Here are the gory details.

I waited for 4 hours to get in. I was prepared for the wait.
We knew we had 3 minutes to make our 'pitch'. As people came out of the audition, they gave the rest of us the heads-up that we would be interrupted if they needed clarifications.
I was also totally prepared to be challenged on any aspect of my business, and that if I didn't know my stuff, I'd get chewed up and spat out.

Here's what happened:
I was one of the last in. The audition process went overtime by a couple hours.
Two of the three auditioners (one played the role of Mean Dragon, the other two would be more reflective) LEFT by the time I got in. I was left with the Mean dragon.

Dragon: Ok. What are YOU selling me. (tone: let's get this thing over with, fast, and I can already tell: you and your idea suck).
Me: (caught off guard right away - I'd planned to tell my story for 30 seconds before getting to the product).
Me: I'm selling an online product that helps people take charge of the money.
Dragon: yeah? so? Who are YOU to sell me this?
Me: well, I'm someone who was 30K in debt, chronically broke, living paycheque to paycheque --
Dragon: (interrupting scornfully) 30K in debt, so this is about debt -
Me: (interrupting) well no, it's not just about debt -
Dragon: so your a debt counsellor. That's provided for free. Why would anyone pay you?
Me: No! It's not just about debt! It's about -
Dragon: Yes it is. $30K in debt you should have gone to a debt counsellor (tone: you loser).
Me: No. It was student loan debt. What I needed was habits and skills to manage the rest of my money so that I could make the payments plus have money left over. (wish I'd said: if every college/university graduate went to debt counselling about our student loan debt the economy would collapse.)
Dragon: Yeah. So you were in debt. Whatever. What qualifies you (tone: you peon) to help me with my money? (tone, how dare you intrude on my fortune).
Me: so I've walked the walk.
Dragon: Yeah, yeah, I know that already. You were in debt. Whatever. What else qualifies you to run a business. (not really said as a question!)
Me: I've started two private schools.
Dragon: using other people's money?
Me: Yes, and now I'd like to -
Dragon: (dismissively) so you're a manager.
Me: No, I took the businesses from start up to being thriving -
Dragon: (interupting) How much money do you want?
Me: $50K.
Dragon: (faux stunned); $50K? You're approaching the dragons for $50K? What for? Have you gone to a bank? Why don't you just get a loan from a bank like everyone else? Or did they turn you down?
Me: I came to the dragons because I thought it would be a more interesting process.
Dragon: $50K? What could you possibly do with $50K?
Me: I will overhaul my website. Make it web 2.0. Forums. Calculators. Auto-responders. I haven't yet described my product -
Dragon: I don't have any money. How can I possibly pay you?
Me: the product is only $30.
FOR ONCE, FOR ONCE, THE DRAGON IS STOPPED IN HER TRACKS.
I continue: It's an elegant, simply idea. It's a series of e-mails, Money Missions, that slowly but surely help people develop skills and habits and routines that help them take control of their money. Because there is not a high cost-of-goods ratio, I can keep it affordable for anyone.
Dragon: So why are you approaching the dragons? Why are you asking for $50K if it's so inexpensive? (fair question).
Another Dragon, who'd returned to the room: (said in a refreshingly normal tone of voice): because it's a more interesting process. And for a website overhaul and SEO.
Me: yes.
Dragon: and will you use some of it for salary?
Me: yes.
Dragon: cause we'll eat you alive if it's for salary.
Me: well some of it is, but most of it is for a couple years of --
Dragon: see you later.

Note: in the whole process I didn't truly get to describe my business concept. This would be akin to going to American Idol, and not getting to sing.

LESSONS I LEARNED:

1. this is a TV show more than anything. It's about entertainment, not a forum for genuine venture capital
2. essentially, I wasn't asking for enough money to make it worth their while. I wish they'd just told me and sent me home. But oh no...
3. Mean people suck. In fact, next year just to mess with the dragons, I plan to audition pitching "Mean People Suck" t-shirts and other products.

And on a more serious note - it was a goofy, wild experience and I'm glad I did it. I went into it on a bit of a whim, and I imagine that showed to a certain extent. Anyone else out there with $50K to invest, lol?