A Business Mentor Can Make The Difference In Failure or Success
Starting a business from scratch can be an intimidating and daunting task, no matter how much experience you have. Kick-starting a business venture with little to no experience as an entrepreneur is even more uncertain. Look around and ask yourself who have you surrounded yourself with on your journey to success? We tend to find people for our inner circle whose pursuits, passions, and success match our own. So let’s ask this question, then:
Who is in your inner circle? Statistics show that even our income closely matches that of those in our circle of influence.
Do you like what you see?
Do those in your inner circle build you up? Do they improve you?
Do they inspire you to reach for greater things?
If you are attempting to build a business empire, yet you find yourself seeing others in your circle of influence who have no clue or interest in doing the same, perhaps it’s time to expand your horizons a bit. Wise and experienced entrepreneurs with multiple streams of income choose to surround themselves with people who have skill sets and knowledge that is desirable. What should we learn from that universal principle?
Knowledge is power. When you’re trying to build a business, having the right knowledge and the skills to efficiently apply solid business principles will inevitably be what makes or breaks you. What you don't know, what you don't take action on, will ultimately harm you. It is time to find and surround yourself with mentors.
What Is A Mentor? A mentor, by definition, is “an experienced and trusted advisor.” A mentor is someone who has experience, knowledge, and success in an area that you wish to master. A mentor is someone that you need to surround yourself with if you want to to succeed in business and life. A mentor can make all the difference in failure or success.
How Would Having Mentors Benefit Me?
Good business mentors have “been there, done that.” They have gone before, and through building their successes have learned from their failures. Finding and connecting with people who have travelled paths similar to the one you are embarking on will provide you with a roadmap as well as valuable examples of actions to take to build your business. Listen to the advice of trusted advisors who have experience, take steps toward growth, and you will see your success flourish.
Mentors offer valuable perspective and an objective approach to viewing your plans. Listening to another’s viewpoint and allowing them to be a sounding board for your ideas, questions, and concerns will clear any potential roadblocks that you may not see in your way. Mentors may even offer new considerations and opportunities that you may not have seen before. Broadening your outlook by assimilation of a mentor’s perspective is another way to achieve your success.
A mentor will connect you to others. A mentor has gone before you and already made valuable business and personal connections, and those connections can be yours as well. A mentor can open doors to enable you to meet people that will assist you on your path. Potential customers, clients, partners, and even other mentors are in your future when you take the time to begin to develop quality connections with others.
A mentor will teach you valuable business and life skills. Learning skills from trusted advisors is one way to increase your knowledge, improve your entrepreneurial abilities, and achieve your success. Taking part in opportunities for professional development, attending content specific classes, and participating in other skill-building activities with your mentor will strengthen your business, your relationship, and your abilities.
Mentors offer a low-risk opportunity for self-improvement and business success. Most businesses provide mentorships and programs that connect more experienced people with self-starters, and the relationships developed are mutually beneficial. Mentors do not get involved in mentorship programs for financial gain; they are passionate about uplifting and inspiring others. Being able to connect with others and develop mutually beneficial relationships will deepen your understanding of both personal and professional success; it’s indeed a win-win situation.
Lastly, a mentor can help to inspire and motivate you when the going gets tough. We’ve all been in situations where we’ve wanted to throw in the towel and let go of achieving our dreams. A mentor has most undoubtedly been in conditions that have been challenging, and they have also overcome many of the obstacles that you may be facing even now. Their stories of overcoming adversity can inspire and motivate you to push through difficulties and reach next level success in your business and your life.
By now, the benefits of procuring mentors should be obvious; they assist you on your path to success through advice, reflection, and motivation. Although it is possible to achieve success through sheer grit and determination, the road will be longer and bumpier without trusted advisors to help guide you on your way.
An intelligent business owner knows that surrounding himself with success will breed more success. Looking to these helping hands for fresh ideas, a new perspective, and valuable insight will ensure continued personal and professional growth. Who knows? You may be able to even pass the torch yourself to someone less experienced someday!