Why Small Biz Owners Need Mentors

Why small biz owners need mentors should be obvious but it doesn’t seem to be the case. I meet a group of friends monthly for dinner. We talk about an area of our professional lives we could use help with, and the group brainstorms, offering advice and ideas. One friend said, “I don’t really have anything this month.” We suggested areas of improvement for our friend to consider. He said, “I guess I need help just talking about my business to someone. It’s so easy to keep it all to myself.” Last year, he quit his day job and went out on his own. He’s a solopreneur and doing well. Except, it gets lonely. He longs for interaction, idea sharing, and human contact—more than once a month at our dinners. Several small business owners at the table offered to mentor him.

My friend stopped by my home the following Sunday, and after the Colts game (we won!), we discussed his progress. He’d met with another friend, a small business owner, over lunch and had a great meeting. They discussed potential problems, pitfalls, and visions for his business. He had found a mentor.

You’re not the first to face the problems you face. Learn from others
You don’t have all the best ideas. Seek advice
Discussion stimulates creativity. Brainstorming by yourself isn’t as effective
Sometimes, you need to be told everything’s going to be okay or not
You occasionally need a friendly nudge to take the next step
We’re not meant to face this world alone, join a tribe and learn from its elders

Getting caught up in the daily battle of managing a small business is easy. There aren’t enough hours in the day, and there’s always another bill to pay. In the meantime, you’re insanely busy trying to find your next customer. There’s no time left for a mentor in your hectic and chaotic business life. Ah, but there’s the rub: an hour every so often with an experienced, helpful mentor may save you many hours of inefficient activities, hours of dead-end initiatives, and hours of sleep. Are you a small business owner? Do you have a mentor? Have you mentored others?

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me.

Does your business have a management training plan? Businesses and universities use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. I’m also available to conduct training.