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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
3 MONTHS AGO
7 Things You Should Know Before Starting Your Business
“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor” – Lailah Gifty Akita
Mentors are like strong and sturdy parents—dependable. Every successful person has had mentors at one time or another. So, what’s the hype about mentors? Are they overrated or the real deal?
While it might seem cool to go solo at the office or as you run your business, having someone to look up to for advice and guidance is far more beneficial. You might have many great ideas on how to start that business, keep it running, or climb the career ladder, but you may not know what exactly needs to be done. This is where mentors come in. They help lead you to the right path, keep you on that path, pick you up when you fall, and give advice where appropriate. They help you just as you help others because no one is an island; we all need each other to survive and grow.
Why do you need a mentor? Here are six reasons:
What do football coaches do? They develop the skills and motivation of football players and teams. They instruct and work with people to prepare them to perform at their best in sports or recreation and develop skills to help them achieve life and career goals. Mentors are like coaches. They build you up and prepare you for the future, the next step, the big leagues, and change. At the office, you need to work smarter, not necessarily harder, and the same goes for starting and running a business. Mentors help you get smarter with their advice. They see where you need help and help you develop the skills you need.
As an entrepreneur, there are days you will feel like you are in prison, down in the dumps with no hope in sight and no one to talk to. There will always be those days. This also applies to those working in big offices and even small companies. A mentor is the one who would motivate and show you that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. Mentors are there to encourage you and make you believe in yourself, as they also believe in you and your abilities. They trust in you and see farther down the lane. Being objective, they see what you cannot right now. While all you can probably see is the mounting debt, uncooperative staff, huge losses, etc., they see beyond all that and encourage you to see the bigger picture they see.
As coaches stretch team members and push them to surpass their limits, so do mentors. They will push and challenge you to improve, think outside the box, spike your creativity, and expand your imagination. They give it to you the way it is. They do not sugarcoat things. They do not let you settle on your shins but rather keep you on your toes. They guide you and help you learn lessons from your mistakes and failures to become a better person, a great administrator, and an excellent businessperson.
Mentors have always got your back. They will nurture you and provide insights on how to deal with office politics and make sound business decisions at the office or your company so you don’t get swallowed by them all. They keep you from landing in the pit if their counsel is taken.
It is so easy to want to rely on yourself while climbing the career ladder and the entrepreneurship chain, but it is tough to do this since you do not know everything. Some people have gone through what you are going through. Mentors help with this. They make your dream theirs and advise you in the best way they can, nurturing and supporting you through the times. They share their experiences and help keep you from making devastating mistakes.
It has been established that no one is an island, and rightly so. Mentors who believe in you share some of their network with you. They provide access to the necessary resources needed at essential times. They could introduce you to someone who would love your idea/business and want to be an active part of it, to talent vital to your business, or to people who would help you along your career path, etc. They sometimes lay the groundwork and, most times, open doors.
With all these reasons, who doesn’t need a mentor? Do you think it is weak to have a mentor? Having a mentor can be one of the best things to happen to you in that office or as an entrepreneur. It isn’t a sign of weakness but a sign that you are smart and intend to succeed.