Forget a Marketing Plan, This is What You Really Need (Why Mentors Are an Entrepreneur’s Non-Negotiable)

Starting a business is a never ending stream of constant to-dos paired with at-time incapacitating cluelessness, which is why mentors play such an important role in an entrepreneur’s life.

(For the record, marketing plans are important too.)

Mentors: An Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon

One of the great joys of freelancing is working with people from many different stages of their career, their business, and life. I’ve worked with a client creating his own SAAS, a production company complete with a gruff but sweet former roadie turned company owner (still one of my most amusing meeting stories), and more.

But most importantly for this story, a small but growing agency who’s owners aren’t all that much older than my business partner and I and have given me incredible opportunities. (You know who you are.)

One of said owners, without us asking, offered to sit down with us and talk through our strategy, sales, and any other issues or thoughts we may be having. This guy is just as — or more — busy than I am and has a growing company to take care of, but he wants to help.

My business partner and I have spoken with people in all stages of life and career, but I think there’s a lot of value for talking with someone who was just recently where you were. They’re on the other side and have the benefit of hindsight and the wisdom of coming through whatever trials they had, but it also hasn’t been long since they were in the storm and remember what it was like.

Don’t Let Opportunity Pass You By

My friends, never, ever, turn down that opportunity.

Whatever area of life you’re struggling in, there’s someone who’s been there and has the outlook of someone on the other side of it.

Whether you find them through networking events, conferences, work, or any other number of possibilities, mentors can give you the resources, listening ear, and experience to make your dream become a reality.

People Love Helping People

People, in general, love being asked for their advice, and if you go in humbly and open-minded, great things can happen. Sure, you don’t need to take all their advice, but make sure you listen.

Someday, in the future, I hope I can do the same for others, because people have been so generous to me (and our company), and I love seeing people pursue their dreams.

Find one, take care of them, and learn from them.

A final thought…

In this crazy time of a full-time job, building a company, and client work, it’s easy for me to get caught up in the detail. But it’s important to remember the overall view and why you’re doing what you’re doing.

It’s important to remember why you’ve started. My client reminded me of my reason for starting; what’s your reason?

This image is posted everywhere for me to see. My phone, my computer’s wallpaper (though I rarely see it since I never close out Chrome), and on my bathroom mirror.

Whatever you need to see every day to get you moving, to motivate you, or to give you the warm fuzzies, post it. Everywhere.