What Role Has Mentorship Played in Your Professional Development?
To highlight the crucial role of mentorship in leadership development, we asked business leaders to share their experiences. From mentors helping restructure business models to guiding behavioral health expansion, here are ten insights from CEOs and founders on how mentorship has shaped their professional journeys.
- Mentor Helped Restructure Business Model
- Mentorship Offers External Perspective
- Mentorship Crucial for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
- Mentor Guided Strategic Company Pivot
- Mentors Instilled Empathy in Leadership
- Mentors and Mentees Expand Knowledge
- Mentorship Leads to Industry Domination
- Mentor Guided Behavioral Health Expansion
- Mentors Show What's Possible
- Books Serve as Mentors
Mentor Helped Restructure Business Model
Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I hit a wall with Dreamstarters Publishing. My initial attempts to scale the business were met with challenges that left me questioning my approach. A mentor, who had built several successful companies, stepped in and provided invaluable guidance. He didn’t just offer strategic advice but also helped me refine my leadership skills and approach to team management. With his support, I restructured my business model, which led to a significant increase in book sales and expanded our client base. This experience taught me that mentorship isn't just about solving immediate problems but about shaping a long-term vision and growth strategy.
Mentorship Offers External Perspective
You can't lead effectively if your only perspective is from inside the pickle jar. You see, no matter how great of a leader you think you are, your perspective on your behavior is biased. It's like being stuck in a pickle jar. You can't read the label when you're on the inside. It takes a trusted person to tell you the view from outside the jar. Mentorships play a critical role in professional development.
For many years as a leader, I drank from the common concoction of anxiety, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome. In my mind, success was due to luck and failure was my continued incompetence. It was a no-win situation.
It wasn't until I had an honest, direct, and trustworthy mentor who helped take me out of the no-win mindset. With the mentor, I learned that everything was a success—even the things I thought were failures were simply building blocks towards greater success. The mentor helped me to dramatically alter my mindset on who I am and how I lead. I'm not the best and I still have a lot to learn, but because of the belief from my mentor, I no longer live my life as if I'm continually drowning.
Now, there are six questions I tell people to consider whenever they're considering somebody as a mentor: 1. Do I trust them and do they trust me? 2. Do I respect them and do they respect me? 3. Will they make a regular commitment to be there for me? 4. Will they keep our conversations confidential? 5. Will they give me constructive feedback, even though I may not like it? 6. Will they hold me accountable for doing the hard things?
Mentorship Crucial for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Being an immigrant in the U.S., mentorship was crucial as I built a new life and started a business in a new industry. What locals knew intuitively was often new or unclear to me. These subtle contexts are essential for building a business network, navigating the industry, negotiating, and leading a team. The fastest way to learn these nuances and new soft skills is through mentorship. When I co-founded Restart, I was fortunate to find my mentors among the top U.S. investors, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Their support and guidance have made all the difference in my leadership and our company's progress.
Mentor Guided Strategic Company Pivot
Mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my career. Early in my journey, I was fortunate to have a mentor who not only guided me through complex business challenges but also encouraged me to think strategically and develop a long-term vision. One specific instance was when I faced a major decision about pivoting our company’s strategy. My mentor's insights and experience were invaluable in helping me navigate the risks and opportunities, ultimately leading to a successful transition. The guidance and support I received have been pivotal in my development as a leader.
Mentors Instilled Empathy in Leadership
Mentorship has been pivotal in my journey as a business leader. Through the guidance of my mentors, I learned the profound impact of empathy in leadership, enabling me to connect more deeply with my team and stakeholders. They also instilled in me the principle that the true measure of a leader lies in their ability to cultivate other leaders, rather than just followers. This approach has empowered me to build more dynamic and resilient organizations, fostering growth and innovation at every level.
Mentors and Mentees Expand Knowledge
Having both mentors and mentees has profoundly expanded my sense of self and knowledge beyond anything I could have imagined.
Like many new entrepreneurs, I initially struggled to ask for advice and lacked the confidence to offer guidance to others, opting instead to navigate the journey alone.
Today, with multiple mentors by my side, I've been able to leapfrog years of learning, avoid costly mistakes, and find invaluable sounding boards. Conversely, mentoring others has not only deepened my understanding but also brought immense joy to my life.
The impact of having mentors and mentees is immeasurable, and I wholeheartedly recommend every entrepreneur embrace this transformative experience.
Mentorship Leads to Industry Domination
I've always had several mentors throughout my entrepreneurial journey. When I was 15, my first mentor helped me with SEO, and together he helped me dominate our industry, achieving 500k unique visitors each month. Over time, I began to assist him, and we developed a close friendship. Mentor your mentors! I believe in having different mentors for different questions, ensuring I don't take up too much of any one person's time. In return, I also aim to 'give back' by adding value to them where I can. Mentorship relationships often come full circle and can lead to wonderful friendships.
Mentor Guided Behavioral Health Expansion
Early in my career, I had the privilege of being mentored by an experienced executive in the behavioral health industry. His guidance was instrumental when we faced a critical juncture at Epiphany Wellness. He taught me the importance of empathetic leadership and strategic decision-making. One specific instance was during a significant expansion phase; his advice on balancing growth with maintaining quality care helped us navigate the transition smoothly. This mentorship not only enhanced my leadership skills but also instilled a lifelong commitment to mentor others, recognizing the profound impact it can have on professional development.
Mentors Show What's Possible
The biggest value in mentorship is to have someone tell you and tangibly show you it's possible. It's someone to believe in you when you can't or don't believe in yourself; they boost your morale, keep you grounded, and keep you going.
Books Serve as Mentors
I am more of an introvert, so instead of seeking out mentors in the traditional sense, I immerse myself in reading a lot of business books. To me, the authors of these books serve as my mentors, providing invaluable guidance and insights.
One of my favorites is "Selling the Invisible" by Harry Beckwith, which is an excellent resource for anyone in a service business like medicine. Beckwith's book offers profound insights into the nuances of marketing intangible services, emphasizing the importance of understanding client perceptions and building trust. For those interested in investing, I highly recommend "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. This book demystifies the complexities of the stock market, advocating for a long-term, passive investment strategy grounded in empirical evidence. These books have been instrumental in shaping my approach to business and investing, much like a traditional mentor would. They provide a wealth of knowledge and practical advice that I can refer back to time and again.
While I may not have a single mentor guiding me, the collective wisdom of these authors has profoundly influenced my career path and business trajectory, offering me a treasure trove of insights and strategies to draw from.
