The Importance of Having a Mentor

While I was with my mentor on Tuesday, watching the sunset over London Town in Hyde Park and seeing the transformation for the Olympics, it dawned on me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my Mentor and his help with my successful journey as a Business Owner. I think the importance of having a Mentor is certainly overlooked.

If you didn’t know, I’m going through Seed investment for my Ecommerce Platform Gloople where I am looking to receive £500,000 worth of investment. Voted as one of the Top 100 Start-ups, I’m taking my business to the next level from three staff, up to nine.

When my mentor mentioned that he saw my two minute investment pitch, he commented on how my presentation skills had grown over the past three years. Looking back, I would have only recorded this pitch once. Now, as I have grown as a person, I was able to stand in front of a camera and use my experience in practice to take at least fifty voice memo’s on my iPhone and 10 videos on my flipcam. This helped me deliver a near perfect pitch in one take when it mattered most.

My mentor then reminded me of the first time he heard me talk and asked me how many times I rehearsed that presentation. My response to him was just once.

Having him as a mentor has now enabled me to do things naturally and break old habits and build new ones, which I have a few of since I’ve had him in my life.

Along with my business mentor, I also have two speaking mentors, who have both shared with me very different skills and styles which I have learnt to use when delivering my seminars. Both without a doubt deserve enormous credit for their help in my growth as a Keynote Speaker.

When choosing your mentor, you must think about these 3 very simple things.

1.  Would you invite him/her round for dinner to meet the family?

2.  Does he/she really know their stuff and have other business owners received great value, financially and emotionally from this person?

3.  It’s OK to say NO and walk away if the said person isn’t right for you. Take your time in finding the right person, if it fits, your intuition will guide you.

Looking at the cost of a mentor, it may seem expensive at first, but with the knowledge and skills you will receive, it will be a priceless investment and stay with you forever. Remember, we’re not just talking professionally, what you can learn from you mentor will help your personal life too.

For me, having a Mentor has been well worth the outlay, so much so as buying a house for a return on an investment.

This is my experience with my mentors; I would love to hear about yours.

PS This is dedicated to my 3 amazing mentors, you know who you are.