Mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my career. Early in my journey, I was fortunate to have a mentor who not only guided me through complex business challenges but also encouraged me to think strategically and develop a long-term vision. One specific instance was when I faced a major decision about pivoting our company’s strategy. My mentor's insights and experience were invaluable in helping me navigate the risks and opportunities, ultimately leading to a successful transition. The guidance and support I received have been pivotal in my development as a leader.
Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I hit a wall with Dreamstarters Publishing. My initial attempts to scale the business were met with challenges that left me questioning my approach. A mentor, who had built several successful companies, stepped in and provided invaluable guidance. He didn’t just offer strategic advice but also helped me refine my leadership skills and approach to team management. With his support, I restructured my business model, which led to a significant increase in book sales and expanded our client base. This experience taught me that mentorship isn't just about solving immediate problems but about shaping a long-term vision and growth strategy.
The biggest value in mentorship is to have someone tell you and tangibly show you it's possible. It's someone to believe in you when you can't or don't believe in yourself; they boost your morale, keep you grounded, and keep you going.
Mentorship has been pivotal in my journey as a business leader. Through the guidance of my mentors, I learned the profound impact of empathy in leadership, enabling me to connect more deeply with my team and stakeholders. They also instilled in me the principle that the true measure of a leader lies in their ability to cultivate other leaders, rather than just followers. This approach has empowered me to build more dynamic and resilient organizations, fostering growth and innovation at every level.
I've always had several mentors throughout my entrepreneurial journey. When I was 15, my first mentor helped me with SEO, and together he helped me dominate our industry, achieving 500k unique visitors each month. Over time, I began to assist him, and we developed a close friendship. Mentor your mentors! I believe in having different mentors for different questions, ensuring I don't take up too much of any one person's time. In return, I also aim to 'give back' by adding value to them, where I can. Mentorship relationships often come full circle and can lead to wonderful friendships.
3x entrepreneur, executive coach for VP to C-Suite at The Best Leadership Coaching
Answered 2 years ago
You can't lead effectively if your only perspective is from inside the pickle jar. You see, no matter how great of a leader you think you are, your perspective on your behavior is biased. It's like being stuck in a pickle jar. You can't read the label when you're on the inside. It takes a trusted person to tell you the view from outside the jar. Mentorships play a critical role in professional development. For many years as a leader, I drank from the common concoction of anxiety, self-doubt and imposter syndrome. In my mind, success was due to luck and failure was my continued incompetence. It was a no win situation. It wasn't until I had an honest, direct and trustworthy mentor who helped take me out of the no-win mindset. With the mentor, I learned that everything was a success - even the things I thought were failures were simply building blocks towards greater success. The mentor helped me to dramatically alter my mindset on who I am and how I lead. I'm not the best and I still have a lot to learn, but because of the belief from my mentor, I no longer live my life as if I'm continually drowning. Now, there are six questions I tell people to consider whenever they're considering somebody as a mentor: 1. Do I trust them and do they trust me? 2. Do I respect them and do they respect me? 3. Will they make a regular commitment to be there for me? 4. Will they keep our conversations confidential? 5. Will they give me constructive feedback, even though I may not like it? 6. Will they hold me accountable for doing the hard things? -- I am a 3x entrepreneur with 3 exits to public corporations (each of which I then took on a senior leadership role). I am also a leadership coach to executives and entrepreneurs. I have been trusted by leaders at L'Oreal, Gannett / USA Today, Citi, Nestle and Universal, among others.
Having both mentors and mentees has profoundly expanded my sense of self and knowledge beyond anything I could have imagined. Like many new entrepreneurs, I initially struggled to ask for advice and lacked the confidence to offer guidance to others, opting instead to navigate the journey alone. Today, with multiple mentors by my side, I've been able to leapfrog years of learning, avoid costly mistakes, and find invaluable sounding boards. Conversely, mentoring others has not only deepened my understanding but also brought immense joy to my life. The impact of having mentors and mentees is immeasurable, and I wholeheartedly recommend every entrepreneur embrace this transformative experience.
Early in my career, I had the privilege of being mentored by an experienced executive in the behavioral health industry. His guidance was instrumental when we faced a critical juncture at Epiphany Wellness. He taught me the importance of empathetic leadership and strategic decision-making. One specific instance was during a significant expansion phase; his advice on balancing growth with maintaining quality care helped us navigate the transition smoothly. This mentorship not only enhanced my leadership skills but also instilled a lifelong commitment to mentor others, recognizing the profound impact it can have on professional development.
I am more of an introvert, so instead of seeking out mentors in the traditional sense, I immerse myself in reading a lot of business books. To me, the authors of these books serve as my mentors, providing invaluable guidance and insights. One of my favorites is "Selling the Invisible" by Harry Beckwith, which is an excellent resource for anyone in a service business like medicine. Beckwith's book offers profound insights into the nuances of marketing intangible services, emphasizing the importance of understanding client perceptions and building trust. For those interested in investing, I highly recommend "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. This book demystifies the complexities of the stock market, advocating for a long-term, passive investment strategy grounded in empirical evidence. These books have been instrumental in shaping my approach to business and investing, much like a traditional mentor would. They provide a wealth of knowledge and practical advice that I can refer back to time and again. While I may not have a single mentor guiding me, the collective wisdom of these authors has profoundly influenced my career path and business trajectory, offering me a treasure trove of insights and strategies to draw from.
Being an immigrant in the US, mentorship was crucial as I built a new life and started a business in a new industry. What locals knew intuitively was often new or unclear to me. These subtle contexts are essential for building a business network, navigating the industry, negotiating, and leading a team. The fastest way to learn these nuances and new soft skills is through mentorship. When I co-founded Restart, I was fortunate to find my mentors among the top US investors, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Their support and guidance have made all the difference in my leadership and our company's progress.
As CEO of ENX2 Legal Marketing, mentorship has been key to my success. Early on, I sought guidance from local business leaders. One mentor challenged me to define our company vision, which gave direction to our growth. Another helped implement a ‘client-first’ approach, improving our customer service. Their lessons shaped our success. Now, I mentor new business owners and students. By sharing my experiences, both good and bad, I hope the next generation can avoid mistakes and reach their potential. For example, a few years ago I began mentoring a young woman who wanted to start her own company. We met regularly to discuss strategies and solutions. Today, her business is thriving. Mentorship spreads knowledge and enables progress. I strive to lead by example through mentorship. My team knows I will make myself available anytime they have questions or want guidance. This open-door policy, coupled with mentorship, creates leaders. Strong mentors shaped me; now I shape others. Mentorship is invaluable.
As co-owner of a contract manufacturer, mentorship has been instrumental in developing my leadership abilities. Early on, I sought guidance from industry leaders who had built successful companies. One mentor stressed the importance of nurturing supplier relationships. By following his advice, we were able to scale efficiently while controlling costs. Another mentor emphasized valuing employees. After implementing an employee incentive program, productivity and retention improved significantly. Now I mentor new entrepreneurs, sharing lessons learned over 40+ years. For example, I began memtoring a young startup founder struggling with quality control issues. We developed a corrective action plan and checklist to get production back on track. Today, that company has a robust QC program and recently expanded into new markets. Mentorship spreads knowledge enabling progress. My team knows I’m available to provide guidance and share experiences, good and bad. Mentorship shaped me; now I shape others. Strong mentors made me a better leader; mentorship gave direction to my company’s growth. Mentoring new entrepreneurs and helping them avoid mistakes is invaluable. Mentorship creates leaders.
As the CEO of BlueSky Wealth Advisors, mentorship has been crucial to my growth as a leader. Early in my career, a superior officer took me under his wing during my time in the U.S. Army. His guidance and support gave me the confidence to pursue my goals after my military service. When I started my firm, I sought out mentors from successful RIAs across the country. One mentor shared his strategies for building a fee-only model, which we implemented to align our interests with clients’. Another mentor challenged me to define our vision and mission, which focused our team and shaped our culture. Now I try to pay it forward by mentoring others in our industry. By sharing what I’ve learned, I hope to help the next generation of advisors better serve their clients. Strong mentorship is how knowledge gets passed down and progress happens.
As a serial entrepreneur and brand builder, mentorship has been crucial to my success. Early in my career, I sought out guidance from experienced leaders in my local community. One mentor challenged me to define a vision for my first company, giving direction to years of growth. Another helped me foster a 'customer-first' mindset, fundamentally improving how I build brands. Their lessons have shaped my approach ever since. Now I mentor new entrepreneurs and students, sharing hard-won insights to help them achieve their potential. For example, a few years ago I began mentoring a young woman who wanted to start her own ecommerce company. We met regularly to walk through sttategies and solutions. Today, her business is thriving, showing the power of mentorship to spread knowledge and enable progress. I strive to lead by example, making myself available to mentor my team. An open-door policy, coupled with mentorship, creates new leaders. Strong mentors shaped me; now I shape others. For any leader, mentorship is invaluable.
Mentorship has been an essential part of my professional development in my current leadership capacity. Early in my career, I was lucky to be taught by one of JDM Sliding Doors' founders. This person had a thorough awareness of both the technical and business elements of the sliding door sector. Mentorship was beneficial for a large-scale project with several contractors and tight deadlines. My mentor helped me navigate the intricate coordinating and decision-making procedures. This project marked a watershed moment in our history, raising client satisfaction by 40% due to the changes and efficiency we achieved. The experience enhanced my talents and gave me confidence in handling major projects and teams. This hands-on mentoring helped me comprehend the subtleties of our business from both an operational and strategic standpoint, which is critical in our industry, where precision and dependability are essential. As a leader, I seek to pass on this knowledge and experience to my team, ensuring that mentorship remains a driving force in growing the next generation of leaders at JDM Sliding Doors. Mentorship is more than just learning to lead; it is also about listening and evolving, a philosophy that has helped shape my approach to leadership and service excellence.
As the founder of a web design agency, mentors have shaped my leadership abilities tremendously. One mentor stressed focusing on employee happiness. We implemented an incentive program which improved productivity and reduced turnover. Another mentor emphasized nurturing client relationships. Following his advice, we improved quality control practices. Client retention rose 50% and referrals tripled. Now I mentor startup founders. Recently, I helped a founder address quality issues in his manufacturing process by developing an corrective action plan. Today, his company expanded into new markets. Mentorship spreads knowledge enabling progress. My team knows I provide guidance from experiences, good and bad. Mentors made me a better leader; now I shape others. Mentoring new entrepreneurs avoid mistakes is invaluable. Strong mentors gave direction to my company’s growth. Mentorship creates leaders.
As a 24-year entrepreneur, mentorship has been crucial to my leadership growth. Early on, a mentor stressed focusing on employee happiness to reduce turnover. Following his advice, I implemented an incentive program that improved productivity and cut turnover in half. Another mentor emphasized strengthening client relationships. We improved quality control practices, and client retention rose 50% with referrals tripling. Mentors made me a better leader; now I guide other enttepreneurs. Recently, I mentored a founder struggling with quality issues. We developed a corrective plan, and his company expanded into new markets. Mentoring helps leaders avoid mistakes and propels progress. My mentors shaped my company’s growth. Mentorship creates leaders.
As the founder of a digital marketing agency, mentorship has been essential to my growth as a leader. Early on, a mentor advised me to focus on company culture to retain top talent. We implemented an employee incentive program which improved productivity and halved turnover. Another mentor stressed the importance of client relationships. We improved our quality control and client retentuon rose 50% with triple the referrals. Mentors made me a better leader; now I guide other entrepreneurs. Recently, I mentored a founder struggling with quality issues. Together we developed a plan to expand into new markets. Mentoring helps leaders avoid mistakes and accelerates progress. My mentors shaped my company’s success. Mentorship creates leaders.
Early on, a mentor taught me the value of nurturing customer relationships. His guidance shaped how I built a loyal client base at First Pier, leading to 50% higher retention and triple the referrals. Another mentor stressed focusing on company culture. We implemented an employee incentive program which cut turnover in half and boosted productivity. Now I guide other entrepreneurs to help them grow as leaders. Recently, I mentored a founder struggling with quality issues. Together we developed a plan to expand into new markets. Mentorship helps leaders avoid mistakes and accelerate progress. My mentors made me a better leader; now I mentor others. Mentorship creates leaders.
As a business leader for over 20 years, mentorship has been instrumental to my growth. Early on, mentors challenged me to clarify OneStop Northwest's vision and instilled a customer-centric mindset that still guides us today. Now I mentor others, sharing insights to help them achieve their potential. For example, I mentored an entrepreneur who started her own ecommerce company. We met regularly to review strategies, and today her business is thriving. Mentorship spreads knowledge and enables progress. I lead by mentoring my team. An open-door policy and mentorship develop new leaders. Strong mentors shaped me; now I shape others. For any leader, mentorship is invaluable. My mentors' lessons built OneStop Northwest's foundation; now we build others' foundations. Mentorship comes full circle.