Free mentor required

[cqueen]

Hi all, I'm wondering if someone would like to help me with the understanding of expanding my business.
I dont want to tell everyone my goings on so would preffer to keep it just one to one.
Prefferably someone with national expansion experience and (most importantly) wont cost me money :? :D

Thanks all.

Chris.

[Coding Monkey]

I think there are limits to the generosity of people and asking people to give up their time, who have experience in a specific field that pays them, might just be it.

[cqueen]

Well I dont want to take up hours of their time, just some advise on what to try and what not to try.

[webit]

I think many people have benifited from opening up their business model on this forum (Mark at Roses by Design being one example). At the end of the day very few of us are going to move into the PAT though you get get an initial consulation for free with one of the members.

[cqueen]

I didnt understand that last bit.

[Tazuk]

For free help, training, advice and mentoring contact you local development agency.

The link to them is here.

http://www.englandsrdas.com/home.aspx

I get free mentoring, training, advice and seminars through mine and it is pushing me forward.

TAZ

[annethedonn]

Ecademy offer a mentor service foc I believe.

[Ozzy]

You do get some good mentoring from the regional development agencies. For example, I am a registered mentor for the East Midlands Regional Development Agency.
They contact me if there is a business in my area that needs some input from someone with my skillset, and I pop along and give a few hours free. The mentors for the regional agencies are every day business people who have been picked from the community as being "experts" in a particular field.

[clairemackaness]

Try Business Link or the local enterprise agency

[refreshious]

I think there are limits to the generosity of people and asking people to give up their time, who have experience in a specific field that pays them, might just be it.

yeah, but a lot of mentors have already made their money and would do it for free because of their passion.

Regards

[Mark Flanighan]

Hi Chris,
Its not enough to have a mentor.
What is more important is to have the right mentor for you.

If you are asking something for free it is unlikely you will be able to choose who and what you get. You could find that your mentor actually restricts your business rather than enhancing it.


You could consider exchanging your services for theirs.

I.E consultants or advisors who have offices and would have to pay for your services, may give you free telephone or email advice in return for your work.

I have done this with a telesales company before. (although It didn't really work for me)

(I dont have an external office so this isn't a hint)

Just a thought

Mark