Entrepreneurs Want More Mentoring

In a Forbes article dated October 30, 2018, Kate Harrison referenced a report that was completed by "Kabbage, Inc.", a global financial services, technology and data platform. Their survey of more than 200 small business owners across the U.S. examined the importance of mentorship within this specific sector. 

My personal observation, base on more than 40 years in the financial services and small business development space, and across multiple sectors, leads me to believe that Mentorship can be valuable to business owners in virtually every sector. Really, who couldn't benefit from having another experienced business person, or professional, offering up a timely and thoughtful perspective for consideration?

A few of the findings stated by Harrison included:

·      Only 22% of small businesses had mentors when they started their business. 

·      Another 17% indicated they have or had an advisor, possibly a paid relationship for consulting and advice. 

·      Approximately 63% of business owners did not have professional guidance at the onset of their business.

·      Almost all, 92% of small business owners agree that mentors have a direct impact on the growth and survival of their business. 

·      Of all respondents, 89% of small business owners who didn’t have a mentor wish that they did. 

I agree with Harrison when she says these statistics highlight a need for Mentorship in the entrepreneurial community. And yes, it is important to connect with qualified mentors early in the business lifecycle, particularly those who can add the greatest value during the critical and challenging early years.

In one of the first Mentorship programs I set up for a business group, an experienced business professional confided that he personally found Mentoring others to be extremely valuable. He said that not only did it provide him with an opportunity to 'give back' and help others, but the process of Mentoring someone else helped him to remain sharp. To expand on that he said it provided him with a chance to reflect back and really evaluate the “HOW, WHAT, and WHY” that were behind his ultimately business success.

Harrison concludes by saying: "In reality, finding an appropriate mentor is not as problematic as recognizing the need for their guidance! If you don’t already have one – now is a good time to reach out." We couldn't agree more! Whether you’re exploring a Mentorship Program for your organization or business, or looking for some individual Mentorship, our team would be pleased to explore your needs in this vital area.

NOTE: Kate Harrison's article in Forbes can be seen at:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2018/10/30/new-study-reveals-entrepreneurs-need-more-mentoring/

Mentoring Quotes of Worth

As we close out 2018, and many of us reflect upon the year that has been, we thought it would be a good time to consider some of the wonderful mentoring quotes that we’ve seen.

One that I particularly like and use when speaking on this topic is from John Maxwell. In his book, Developing The Leader Within You, Maxwell said: “All of the certificates of recognition we receive in life will fade. The monuments we build will crumble. The trophies will corrode. But what we do for others will make a lasting impact on our world. True success comes only when every generation continues to develop the next generation, teaching them the value and the method of developing the next group of leaders.”

There is a lot of truth in that quote, and wonderful insight can be found in many other quotes. Several years ago I met Rey Carr of Spirit Mentor. Rey has compiled a significant collection of quotes over the years and has recently made a curated 22-page e-booklet available at: http://goo.gl/bhPX8k

He’s used quotes like these when conducting training sessions and suggests that if you find value in the booklet he’s made available, that you please consider making a donation to Wounded Warriors Canada, a peer mentoring service for veterans, first responders and their families. Donations can be made at: https://woundedwarriors.ca/

Now, from various other sources, here are a few more quotes related to Mentoring that we really like:

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg

"The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting." ― Plutarch

“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” ― Plato

"We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout." ― Epictetus

We welcome your thoughts and insights related to important aspects and insights related to Mentorship!

And if you'd like to explore how Mentorship can assist you and your organization please contact us at your convenience. More information & details on our specific services and areas of expertise can be found on our Website: CLICK HERE

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What's Your Favourite Mentoring Story?

I recently got together with a wonderful gentleman I've considered to be a personal Mentor for a number of years. Not only has he been a terrific influence in my professional development, but he's also become a very good friend. While distances separate us, I do enjoy every opportunity we have to connect, whether that's in person, or through the use of technology.  

As we were talking about Mentorship at our most recent get together, I mentioned a dinner theatre show my wife and I enjoyed a number of years ago.  It was a rendition of  "Tuesdays with Morrie" - by Mitch Albom. 

Jamie Farr (from M.A.S.H. fame) was masterful in the role of "Morrie" and Rejean Cournoyer did a great job with the role of "Mitch".  By the end of the evening, I don't think there was a dry eye in the house!

For those not familiar with the story, it is told through the recollections of Mitch Albom, a  career-focused sports writer recognizes that he's been caught up in the pursuit of career success. In a cathartic release, "Mitch" acknowledges that he's lost sight of the important things in life. In an effort to make amends for having not kept a promise to stay in touch, Mitch reconnects with Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor and one time Mentor. Nearly twenty years have lapsed and Morrie is now slowly losing his battle with ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease. With time slipping away, Mitch agrees to come for another visit, and so begins a series of Tuesday meetings.  As they meet, a significant transformation takes place, as a wise Mentor shares many of the lessons learned, and thus helps his Mentee become a more balanced and wiser human being.  Tuesdays with Morrie is a great story with much to say to those who find themselves 'busy' with the many things that call for our attention.

While there are likely many lessons to be extracted from this story by Mitch Albom, for me it illustrates the potential richness that can develop within a Mentor - Protege (Mentee) relationship.  In spite of the time between their points of contact, this story reminds us to consider the longer-term. impact of the decisions we make today, and to develop those significant relationships that can mutually increase the quality of our lives. 

There are many more great examples out there ... we'd be pleased to see your comments on this, or on another story, movie or television show that depicts Mentorship.  Let our audience know what lessons can be learned and how the story made an impact on you.


And as always, we welcome your thoughts and insights related to important aspects and insights related to Mentorship!

If you'd like to explore how Mentorship can assist you and your organization, please contact us at your convenience. More information & details on our specific services and areas of expertise can be found on our Website: CLICK HERE 

There's Always Time for Mentoring!

Well, it seems that we're once again into another busy season! 

... And it wouldn't surprise me if you're also finding yourself very busy - particularly if you're involved in running a business of your own! 

But let me ask: "Are you finding some time to Mentor someone else?" 

While involvement in a formal Mentorship relationship has a lot of merit - other forms of Mentorship can also provide value and shouldn't be totally discounted.

Yes, life gets busy. We're all busy. That's a given! And when I look at the "business related" activities on my personal calendar, it looks like it's already quite full. 

Recent highlights include: Instructing a number of entrepreneurship classes, Business Coaching of clients, and working with some to complete business plans. 

Looking ahead: I've committed to volunteering this month, allocating a number of days to assist at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). 

And on "Mentorship" - I see elements of informal Mentorship that takes place as a result of these connections. Informal Mentorship doesn't have to take a lot of time. It merely requires a genuine interest in helping someone else progress in their development! But the truth is, this is something I also enjoy. And while that helps make it easier to say, "Yes" to their requests, working with these business students never fails to provide insights into emerging opportunities and potential creative solutions. But the newest volunteer role I've accepted, is in having been asked to chair the “Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Advisory Committee” at NAIT's J.R. Shaw School of Business. It's another way of giving back to those who are feeding the entrepreneurial spirit, and another great opportunity to work with key stakeholders from education, industry, government, and the community.
 
NOW to connect Mentorship with NAIT - one of the things that I was very pleased to see was the recent announcement of the new Mentorship Program at NAIT's "Mawji Centre for New Venture and Student Entrepreneurship".  This is something that I'd heard they wanted to incorporate and we've followed with them in several discussions expressing interest in how things were progressing. Now ... it's available for NAIT students to access!

As a formalized, annual Mentorship Program, the benefits for participants are stated as:

• Increase your self-confidence

• Take control of your path to entrepreneurship

• Learn how to accept feedback in important areas, such as communications, technical abilities, change management, and leadership

• Enhance your interpersonal relationship skills

• Grow your business contacts and networking opportunities

More details and access to the NAIT Mawji Centre Mentorship Program can be found at:  http://www.nait.ca/103759.htm

We welcome your thoughts and insights related to important aspects and insights related to Mentorship!  

And if you'd like to explore how Mentorship can assist you and your organization please contact us at your convenience. More information & details on our specific services and areas of expertise can be found on our Website: CLICK HERE 

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS POST? 

Reflecting on Great Mentorship Insights

PERHAPS it was last year's long, cold winter ... or maybe it was 'our summer that wasn't'... I'm not really sure.

NEWS FLASH:
(Sept. 13, 2018)
"Snow in Edmonton, Alberta!!!
Yes, it was true.
CLICK HERE to see a related news item.

Regardless, for whatever reason, I found my thoughts drifting toward the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. It was a few years ago since we were last there, but I fondly recall the wonderful conversation we had with Glenn Furuya, President & CEO at Leadership Works, LLC. 

Glenn provided us with some of the great comments with respect to Mentorship. We've tried to capture a couple of them that you'll find further below. And we'd also invite you to view one of the short video clips on our YouTube Channel where Glenn shared these insights with us during our visit. I think you'll find that they also ring-true with you. A link is provided at the end of this post.

Here are some key points from Glenn's comments:
  1) The role of a leader is to set people up to succeed.
  2) Give Mentees confidence, support, education and advice.
  3) Mentors help to nurture the gifts and talents within the Mentee.
  4) Encourage Mentees to spread their wings and give things a try.
  5) Help Mentees grow - let them build, expand and develop, and then share with others.
  6) To be successful, Mentorship should be a systemic process of continuity and regularity. 
  7) Leadership requires a frequency of contact and become, "a habitual ritual".

PLEASE, take a moment and enjoy the Mentorship video on our YouTube Channel with Glenn Furuya, President & CEO at Leadership Works, LLC.  CLICK HERE

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We welcome your thoughts and insights related to important aspects and insights related to Mentorship!

And if you'd like to explore how Mentorship can assist you and your organization please contact us at your convenience. More information & details on our specific services and areas of expertise can be found on our Website: CLICK HERE

Change Happens - Mentor On!

"Do we need to change our direction?"

Change happens all the time, and yet for some reason, we find it uncomfortable when we have to make a change. 

 

Why is that?

For business owners and professionals, as well as those who work for businesses or other organizations, awareness of the changes taking place around us should cause us to ask, "What do we need to do?" However, I think we'd all agree that it would be much better to be pro-active in initiating a change in direction, than to be reactive and forced into it.

In a Mentoring role earlier this year, I was very pleased to meet Vini Costanzo, Director with ViniCostanzo Business Intelligence. Over the course of a weekend in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), we had the opportunity to Mentor many of those who participated in "CrashCourse Jumpstart" - a business start-up event held at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Vini shared from his depth of expertise in marketing, social media and online business solutions, while I enjoyed providing insights drawn from many years of working with start-ups and those planning for the growth and success of their businesses.  

Vini touched on the importance of being flexible to change as it happens around you. As he points out in one of his online Instagram posts: "Sometimes, entrepreneurs get too excited about their products and forget about the customers. Remember, you are in the market to solve a problem for somebody. Be ready to adapt your products if it's necessary."

Thanks Vini. That fits nicely with being "proactive" and ready to "pivot" when necessary!

In the past, I've frequently quoted Rosabeth Moss Kanter from the Harvard Business School. She said: “Change is disturbing when it is done to us, exhilarating when it is done by us.” Kanter also said: “To stay ahead, always have your next idea waiting in the wings.” 

I like both of these quotes because they speak to the importance of: 1) being on top of the change process; and 2) having a "game plan" that anticipates your next moves in the marketplace.

For small business owners, a group that I’ve worked with extensively, the nice thing about being "small" is that you are in a much better position to quickly pivot. Of course, you’ll have your own sense of direction as to what to do, but it’s reassuring to have a Mentor and other trusted Advisors with whom you can discuss a potential danger or an emerging opportunity. 

TIPS: Keep your eyes and ears open, work with your team, listen to your customers and watch your competition. This will help you recognize when a change is likely needed and better judge the timing with which you'll want to execute that change!

At Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. we work with our clients to help them better plan their businesses for the future. We help them understand the risks and opportunities around them, so they can best position themselves for success in the marketplace. Please let us know if you'd like to further explore your situation and join those we've helped with "... a SMARTER Business Start, Growth and Mentorship!"

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS POST? 

We welcome your creative thoughts and insights related to anticipating and negotiating change, and how Mentorship can help! 

                                                                                 

More information & details on our specific services and areas of expertise can be found on our Website: CLICK HERE

Connecting Mentorship and Job Shadowing ...

Mentorship and Job Shadowing ... Is there a Connection?

I believe that there is.  Both are connected to knowledge transfer and the concepts of learning, development and growth.  I was pleased to read a recent Linkedin Post from a friend and business professional, Randy McLean - Business Development Consultant Alberta at Moneris.  BTW - Randy is familiar with the entrepreneurial group mentioned in our BLOG Post of June 28, 2018 and he added some great perspectives to the "Customer Service Excellence" tips that came out of a recent meeting. 

I asked Randy for permission to mention his article: The Art of Peer to Peer Job Shadowing, within which I believe he points to a key characteristic that's also found in successful Mentoring relationships.  Within a healthy and supportive workplace environment, we "learn the ropes" from others who've been in similar roles before us.  At the same time, and this is frequently under emphasized, there is the potential for reciprocal learning to take place, if and when we’re open also learn from the experiences of others.  Working within the context of a sales environment, Randy says, "It’s good practice to have sales reps going out together. Senior reps can help with education and training for more junior reps.  But there is also a benefit to having reps with different job history experiences going out together.  When we are paired up with different people regardless of our tenure,  We gain exposure to different styles, previous work knowledge and strategies that will help improve even the most senior sales person."
 
Thank you Randy for allowing us to share your experience with our audience. There are definitely some common threads here and value to be gained by those willing to share their insights and experiences, together with "best known practises" to help others develop their full potential. 

* If you'd like to read Randy's full article on LinkedIn: CLICK HERE.


To close this post, please let us know if we can help you explore the potential of Mentorship within your organization.  We’d be delighted to work together with you to discover what Mentorship can do for you and your team!

BTW - We’ve captured some great comments and experiences from those who’ve been Mentors and been Mentored.  View them now for FREE on our YouTube Channel ...
CLICK HERE

PLEASE feel free to share your comments to our post. 

We'd be very pleased to hear from you and let others benefit from comments related to your experiences for improving Mentoring Relationships.

                                                                          

 
QUESTION:  Could you benefit from having a Business COACH and MENTOR?  
IF the ANSWER is YES ...  Take a look at our "NEXT Steps Program!   
 
If you're looking for flexible and cost-effective Business Coaching & Mentoring, you'll like our “NEXT Steps - Program”.  It's been created with you in mind, and provides 12 months of valuable assistance, designed to fit your busy schedule! 

For more information see:

"Option 3 – “PVS – NEXT Steps - Business Coaching & Mentoring Program” 

It's listed on our Website Registration page:

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