what makes a good bootcamp candidate

 Ten qualities Ashton looks for in bootcampers:

• Ambition: it should be self-evident that if you have your own business you want it to succeed, develop and grow
• Courage: following on from that you may have to make decisions that you might not like or have anticipated, but if it works then why not?
• The desire to do something better than it’s currently being done
• Willingness to listen to other people, whether it’s a customer or an adviser
• Judgement : the ability to assess advice and decide whether it’s applicable
• Willingness to learn new things – not having much formal education can be a bonus - you're less “brainwashed”
• Commonsense and sound instincts
• Practicality  willingness to do anything, not being precious
• Being realistic:  recognising what you can do and not trying to do more than your ambition for yourself
• Resilience: the abiity to not take it personally when people say "no"

Who shouldn't join a boot camp?

• Someone who's started a business and found they don't like it. If you're not up for it putting more pressure on yourself won't help.
• If you're in too much of a muddle it's going to be difficult to get out of - get out and take the loss.
• If you've started a business and the marketplace isn't responding it may be a dumb idea. You can't market your way out of mission impossible. You have to recognise everyone has to start where the customers are.
• Arrogance: If you think your business is bigger and better than any other business you're not going to be open to learning and getting the most out of the bootcamp experience. You have to give as well as expecting to get. Be willing to pull your weight and help each other.
• People skills: Any business requires people skills for staff, customers. Boot camp is a good measure. You won’t get on if you expect to be told what to do.

And finally…..

there are some things people might think are no-nos which aren’t

• Finding it scary – scary’s good, it means you are risk aware
• Nerves about speaking in public, working in a group, speaking out – you can bet your fellow boot campers are probably every bit as anxious as you are and you’ll be much more confident as a result of your boot camp experience
• Thinking your business isn’t big enough or important enough or everyone else is going to be better than you.  Your business is special and you want it to grow – so does everyone else on a boot camp or they wouldn’t be there. 

 But don't just take Robert's word for it - see what the 2007 bootcamp graduates from West Lindsey, South Holland and East Lindsay thought of the experience in the sections under The Ashton Bootcamp (menu left) and where the Welland class of 2006 are one year on