Management Perspectives

Entrepreneurs know the excitement of a new idea and how intoxicating the potential for bringing it to life can be. Yet, however great their idea, they may not know how to develop it into a working business model to generate revenue. That is where a mentor comes in. Over the years, we have had several mentors who have taught us invaluable lessons that helped us avoid poor business decisions. Without them, we would have certainly given up on this journey a long time ago. That is why we are so grateful to them and why we pay it forward as much as possible. Mentors have been an integral part of our success. We know that a mentor can help navigate the entrepreneurial journey.

Many business owners can find themselves feeling isolated, with extended hours and a self-containing environment. It is not easy to make time to connect with other people, especially other entrepreneurs. They have a lot of responsibilities, but they also must continue growing to support their staff and to make their company stronger. It is not easy for them to admit that they need help. The fear of looking foolish or weak paralyses many new business owners and keeps them from seeking help when they need it. Pride can be a great tool, but it can also be the enemy if it stops people from getting the support they need. More people want to help than they may think.

Mentees are not the only ones supported by a mentoring relationship. We mentor small business owners and find it incredibly satisfying to watch them discover fascinating aspects about themselves and their business. Not only do they learn more about running their business, but the mentor gets the pleasure of helping. Becoming mentors has enabled us to continue to grow as business owners as we advise our mentees on their pain points. It has helped us continue to learn, grow, and improve our own processes.

No one person can answer every question, but mentors can motivate mentees to push forward when they are feeling lost. Good mentors do not take the relationship lightly. They understand that it requires time, patience, commitment, and a willingness to be transparent with their knowledge and experience. They will meet mentees where they are and give them reinforcement and the push they need to carry on.

A good mentor will provide an idea of what success can look like. He or she will model actions and behaviours that show what it takes to be productive and successful. A mentor also needs to have strong communication skills and share excitement for the mentee’s progress. Few things are more empowering than having someone believe in you and express their excitement for your growth, both personally and professionally.

Many people have given us positive reinforcement over the years. All those pats on the back were appreciated. Still, the people who encouraged us to keep going when we felt like quitting are the ones for which we are truly grateful. Our parents were our first examples of mentorship. Sean’s parents modeled an excellent work ethic and helped him understand how you only get what you give in any situation. Thora’s mother showed her what determination and drive could do. Continuing to seek mentors who could model the behaviours we needed to move to the next level has been vital to our success.

The following list offers seven reasons why new business owners should seek out mentors:
1. Mentors are a plethora of information.
We had no idea what was involved in running a business when we started. If we had had a mentor from the beginning, we could have had access to knowledge that may have helped us avoid expensive mistakes. Finding mentors later on in the process was essential to our growth, such as the help we received from Kerry Ross in developing our Club Tattoo brand. He managed Sean’s band Grey Daze and owned a restaurant in the 1990s. Kerry’s advice helped Sean avoid costly mistakes when it came to negotiating a lease and budgeting.

2. Mentors help you find improvement.
Mentors are really good at seeing what you cannot and providing essential perspective and insight. We did not want someone to give us a false sense of confidence if there were instances where we were falling short. Before they become a disaster, being shown areas to improve is a priceless gift that your mentor can give you.

3. Mentors support personal and professional growth.
“Know thyself ” is a classic proverb and a mentor can help you better understand yourself. Our mentors would pose questions and ask us to come back with several different answers to the problem. They also set goals to give us something to strive for and to see how dedicated we were to the process. We would benefit from their observations throughout the process, with feedback on what went well, what did not go that well, and what we should change immediately.

4. Mentors push you to do more.
There were times when we wanted to quit. If we had not had mentors along the way, we could have just given up. However, we had dedicated mentors that would just not let us quit. They gave encouragement and guidance that made us feel like we could accomplish our dream. Mentors not only provide moral support, but they may also have connections to others who might be willing to invest in your company, find talent to work in your business, and place you in events and organisations that provide you with more ways to succeed.

5. Mentors help you see your limitations and work within them.
We all have our faults, but we don’t always see them. That is where having a trusted person to point out areas of improvement is essential. One of our mentors taught us good work habits and provided us with goals to help us focus. Because he was an objective third party, he was happy to share his thoughts and we valued his insights.

6. Mentors let you share ideas and give honest feedback.
When we started out, we had so many ideas for the types of businesses we could start. Our mentors helped us to see what could and could not work for us. It was brutally honest, but it helped us understand that we needed to focus 100 per cent on one area and make it great. If we were spread too thin, none of the ideas would have received proper attention.

7. Mentors help prevent you from making easily identified mistakes.
Mentors have made their own mistakes and are willing to share them, so you do not end up repeating them. We are all about doing things better and wiser, so why not skip the tough lessons? Our mentors were transparent about the situations they wished they had handled differently. We used that transparency to learn from them and miss the pain and lost resources that came with them.

While each of us develops at our own pace, the challenges and perspectives a mentor can offer have many positive, long-term effects. Take the lessons we have learned and find a mentor that will change your life.