What makes a successful entrepreneur? It’s certainly more than one good idea, that’s for sure. In fact, one of the UK’s most successful businessmen, Sir Richard Branson, believes that it actually takes more than one person to make a successful entrepreneur. “If you ask any successful business person, they will always say they have had a great mentor at some point along the road,” he says.
Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs have attributed their success to their mentors. From Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, to Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs, it’s hard to ignore how vital mentors have been in shaping the successes of the world’s more successful business leaders. So, is it about time you thought about getting a business mentor too?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for years, having a good mentor to guide and advise you can make the difference between success and failure. If you haven’t given much thought to how a mentor could help your SME grow and develop, this blog post is for you.
Here are three of the main benefits of having a business mentor.
1. GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
“Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” ~ Voltaire.
A business mentor will be able to guide and support you as you develop your company. Growing businesses face many problems and challenges, especially in the first months and years, but the best thing about having a mentor is that they have been there before and are in the perfect position to help you avoid making the same mistakes as they (and countless others new companies) made.
2. PERSPECTIVE
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein.
It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut and forget the need to adapt to meet changing needs and demands of consumers. Having a mentor will help you gain a fresh perspective on your business and could help you open your eyes to current trends and more efficient ways of working that you wouldn’t otherwise have thought to try.
3. CONTACTS AND NETWORKING
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” ~ African proverb.
Networking has long been considered key to building a successful business, yet many people still underestimate its importance. Don’t be one of them. A mentor will be able to introduce you personally to their contacts at networking events and ensure that you avoid the dreaded networking nerves’. By working with a mentor, you’ll have access to their vast network of industry contacts and have the opportunity to meet key players you might otherwise have been too apprehensive to approach.
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