Ideal Business Consultants

“Going it alone” in business doesn’t have to be about “going it alone”. During the first few years of being a start-up, perhaps more than any other time in your working life, you actually need someone to turn to for advice, guidance, and support – you need a mentor.

A mentor is someone who has been there before (think Gordon Ramsay, Tabatha Coffey, or even Donald Trump). They are experienced, successful, and can provide advice and guidance – for no real personal gain.

But how do you find a mentor? Here are some tips for finding and working with a mentor for your small business.

1.       Government-Sponsored Mentor Organizations

You might be surprised, but the government offers a great deal of free resources, including Small Business Assistance and Training and Mentoring services to support small business owners, both online and locally.

One organization in particular – SCORE* –provides free and confidential counseling, mentoring and advice to small business owners nationwide via its network of more than 12,400 retired business executives, leaders and volunteers.

Sponsored by the SBA, SCORE volunteers share their expertise through in-person* and online counseling*. Be prepared to deal with several experts if you need end-to-end business advice. SCORE specialists are just that, they often have a specific area of expertise (HR, business planning, etc.) and while your primary counselor will be your main point of contact, they can help identify and introduce you to other specialists.

Other government-sponsored sources of counseling and mentoring include, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, and Minority Business Development Centers.

2.       Trade Associations

Many trade associations operate mentor-protégé programs that provide guidance to help you build your business. These mentoring programs are often conducted through a combination of formal one-on-one “mentoring sessions” and group networking and discussion opportunities with fellow protégés. Business owners might be connected with several different mentors over a period of several months to gain a more rounded experience.

Most industries are represented by trade associations, as are genders, ethnic groups and business types. If you need help finding a trade association consult this *Industry Trade Association Directory from Google.

3.       Mentoring for Government Contractors

If your business plans to sell anything to the federal government, you’ll know that this one can be a tough egg to crack. The good news is that the General Services Administration (GSA) offers a Mentor-Protégé Program that is specifically designed to encourage prime contractors to help small businesses be more successful in government contracting and enhance their ability to perform successfully on government contracts and subcontracts. Read more in this article from fellow blogger, Bill Gormley: Mentor-Protege Program Offers Small Businesses Gov’t Contracting Opportunities.

4.       Look to Your Network

One of the best ways to find a mentor who knows your industry, your community, and comes with a great referral is to use your network.

Whether you have admired a business owner from afar, or know someone in your previous employment that you respect and value for their business insight – you have nothing to lose in approaching and asking these individuals if they would consider being your mentor. In all likelihood, they will be flattered – but do your preparation and explain why you chose them, what your goals are, and what you hope to learn from them. If they agree, you can then discuss the time commitment.

5.       Working with a Mentor

If you work with a mentoring organization, it’s likely that they already have a formal mentor-protégé structure in place. If you are working with an individual you will need to work together to establish a mutually beneficial structured relationship.

Be organized, prepared and consistent.

Plan your mentoring sessions in advance.  These could be as simple as having a one-on-one consultation or lunch meeting once a month to discuss where you are against your business goals, how best to tackle business obstacles, getting  advice on business processes or regulatory requirements that you don’t understand, and so on.

You might also want to build in some more structured sessions that address different aspects of managing and growing a business such as business planning, managing employees, marketing best practices, how to conduct operational reviews, etc.

Always come prepared, take notes, own action items, and review progress against these in your next session.

Overall, be respectful of your mentor’s time. Don’t expect them to be hands-on in your business or fix what might be broken. Use their insight and apply as you best see fit. And last but not least, be thankful and communicative about the value they bring. This is about being a mutually beneficial relationship after all.

Related Articles

• SBA, SCORE, and SBDCs Explained – 3 Essential Local Resources for Small Business Owners
• Continuous Improvement Isn’t Just for Big Business
• Starting & Growing Your Business: 5 Valuable Lessons Learned from Reality TV Pros
• Start-Up Survival – Making it through the Early Years (a Year-by-Year Guide)
• Are You Ready to Grow Your Business? – Five Tips to Help You Prepare for Growth

*Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

Similar Posts:

• SBA, SCORE, and SBDCs Explained – 3 Essential Local Resources for Small Business Owners
• Empowering Minority Entrepreneurs and Pequeñas Empresas – Government Resources that Can Help
• 4 Ways to Combat the Isolation and Loneliness of Being Your Own Boss
• Getting Started in State and Local Government Contracting – A Small Business 101
• Selling Internationally? 8 Reasons why Export.gov Might Just Be Your New Best Friend