Mentor
Count your mentor among your business assets
At times, owning a business can be a lonely experience. A mentor can help.
A mentor is a more experienced person who guides and advises you. Having a mentor can be a rewarding and beneficial process. ACCION New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado offers its own mentorship program, the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program or WELead [link: community initiatives], and provides all of its loan clients with the opportunity to be paired with a mentor.
Mentors and coaches are not the same thing, and each can provide you with valuable guidance and skills. This distinction between mentoring and coaching comes from Michael H. Shenkman, Ph.D., President of Arch of Leadership.
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A Coach |
A Mentor |
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Focuses on Results |
Focuses on Attitude |
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Teaches Skills |
Imparts Values |
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Discusses Problems |
Discusses Life |
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Knows How |
Knows Why, Whether |
Mentoring is a special relationship
As an entrepreneur, having someone who will act as a sounding board and can offer their perspective is crucial to your business’ success. A mentor will help you to:
- Focus on your business from a distance and remember what your original goals and plans were.
- Learn from others’ mistakes and successes.
- Expand your business networking.
- Develop a long-term and trusted relationship.
One of the greatest benefits of a mentor relationship is that it can give you the confidence you need to push ahead with your business plans. Sometimes, this is all that is needed to identify strategies and opportunities for the growth of your business.
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