Business Mentors

[FreelanceSEO]

Do any of you guys have business mentors?

How did you go about finding and approaching one?

Thanks

T

 

[niagra]

I have used Business Link. They were very helpful and it's free too!!

Dario

 

[stumac]

yes i use business gateway(same but scotland)free advice for three years

 

[DuaneJackson]

I do. It came about more by networking more than any of the traditional Business Link/ Princes Trust routes.

You might want to look at the one-to-one business coaching at http://www.stridingout.co.uk/

 

[Helen@Cats Whiskers]

Yes, I have one at the moment that I've found through Business West and I had another mentor previously that I paid for. Nearly every BNI chapter has a business coach/mentor as part of the group and if you network in your area I'm sure you'll meet several potential mentors/coaches that you could work with if your Business Link can't introduce you to one.

I would advise that you need to meet with any potential mentor and get to know them before you decide whether to work with them. Also, you need to be clear what you want to gain from having a mentor because that will have a bearing in your selection.

Good luck.

 

[FreelanceSEO]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'd like an individual rather than an organisation. Ideally I'm looking for someone that has been-there done-that in terms of e-commerce.

 

[RapidBI]

Hi
I use profitxchange - you get to talk with a real person - phone, email or face to face - you choose.
Be careful with Business Link advisers - they are all now sales target driven - are they really offering the best advice or what helps them hit their target??

 

[ginantonic]

I have a Business Link advisor, he's very good, but tends to state the obvious, suggesting things I have already done (and probably already told him about), and yes, they are very target driven now,a lot of their targets now are just for "signposting", not "doing".

 

[ledbillboards-co-uk]

I have used a business mentor - Robert Soulsby. He has helped me a lot.
You can give him a ring and you see what he can do for you.
His number:
Tel: 01858 880739
Mobile: 07815 787065

Robert's profile: http://www.talktosps.com/html/our-partners/our-partners/?ID=38

 

[officeangel]

I actually approached someone direct to be my business advisor and I'm lucky that she said yes. It's a brilliant option for me, she's a business woman first and foremost but also a lawyer. She keeps me sane and on my toes and it really works for me.

I don't need a huge amount of input and guidance on how to do my job, I've been doing it for more years than I care to remember, but it's the things that niggle you at night that I find it so good to discuss with her.

I also have an accountant, who's great and my bro-in-law is a tax advisor ... so I'm pretty well covered.

 

I am currently signed up as a mentor but no clients as yet so better not mention the organisation. This activity really needs to be face to face (at least initially). Could do the same for forum members in West Midlands I suppose. Drop me a PM if this is something you want to explore

 

[jholden]

We offer business consulting services, which in many cases is mentoring, however, a free tip, find someone who has run a business similar to yours and ask them!

Why? Well all mentors will help and add value, to a point, however, someone who has run a business in your industry is always a good choice.

We have previously brought in from 'outside' our contacts/clients to act as mentors (paid) to other businesses in similar businesses (different areas).

Good luck.

Jason

 

[Moneyman]

I do it for free but am up to eyeballs at the moment.
I also have a mentor but these days we just use each other as sounding boards.

 

[Bruce_Andrews]

You mentioned e-commerce - are you looking for B2B or B2C
and if it's B2B - i might be able to help
but i also agree with another of the posts - look at your local networking groups.

 

[FreelanceSEO]

I do it for free but am up to eyeballs at the moment.
I also have a mentor but these days we just use each other as sounding boards.

Certainly let me know when you are free'd up a little MM. I've been reading your posts and advice for years.

 

[ginantonic]

Just wanted to add to my earlier post, I know a lot of you have slagged off Business Link in the past (and sometimes with good reason), but I have the most helpful advisor ever, he keeps in touch, and does actually make you feel that he is doing something, the opposite of one I had some years ago. I think they have had to improve, the Government won't continue funding a weak organisation for long, and the reshuffle they have just gone through will help to streamline their operations and make them more effective. And, hey, we are all target driven up to a point, aren't we?

 

[Moneyman]

I think they have had to improve, the Government won't continue funding a weak organisation for long,

Have you been sitting in a dark room with a pillow over your head for ten years?

 

[ginantonic]

No, Moneyman, but sometimes I wish I had....

 

[The Panda]

Be carefull who you choose. I had a mentor once. He seemed genuine. He was a local business man who had done very well for himself.
Unknown to me he was picking my brains and within 6 months was selling the same products as me from his stores. Just plain greedy. Already ownes a house that my home would fit in the porch.

 

[Billshaw]

If you are based in SW England give me a call on 01225 420340, I may be able to help

 

[FreelanceSEO]

Am based in Bedfordshire.

The service is online based and 100% unique. However I guess it's not e-commerce in a traditional sense as initially people will not be able to just log-on and use it. It will be marketed mainly through partnerships and joint ventures with other organisations targetting specific groups.

Not sure there is too many people in this catagory about for me to approach.

 

[Kay]

Interesting thread, thanks. I had a look at the StridingOut site which was suggested but when I saw that their "Local Networks are hosted by a team of Ambassador's [sic] and Business Coaches", it put me off.

When a website doesn't even manage simple proofreading on its homepage, it's hard to have any confidence in its ability to help you with running your business in a professional way.

 

[veejay]

Hi Telby

I am also based in Bedfordshire and run a PR agency - any use in your grand scheme of things?

 

[FreelanceSEO]

Maybe at some stage. PM me your details and I'll shout if I need you.

Thanks

 

[Bruce_Andrews]

Hi Telby
Unless you can give a hint about the type of business, you may struggle to find someone approppriate.
What about the "specific groups" that you are targetting - anyone there?

Whoever you do find, I strongly recommend that you follow up on references and make sure there is a confidentiality agreement.
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[positiveenergy]

A lot of people talk about how supportive Business Link are but nobody mentions that actually Business Link will not help you if you live in an area that they think is too affluent. If you live in an area that they think is poor, they fall over backwards to help you.

I turned to you guys on this board instead last year for advice and support and you were all absolutely brilliant, so I wouldn't bother with Business Link at all now.

 

[adam_uk]

Hi

I went to business meeting where the course was about succeed in business, leadership and I went to a few of them.

They have a few running sometimes in Uni cause it does business courses.

Then I saw someone who was coaching, that I wanted to be mentored by. I asked how much he charges, checked his history, talked to people he mentored, and also to see if I can get along with the mentor too, which is important to me.

That's how I found my business mentor. Best investment I made in my whole life! It has helped me so much in life. My business grew faster and he helped me to design a system for me.

 

[niagra]

A lot of people talk about how supportive Business Link are but nobody mentions that actually Business Link will not help you if you live in an area that they think is too affluent. If you live in an area that they think is poor, they fall over backwards to help you.

That's not the case for me. I live in Warwick which is pretty affluent, especially when you consider how close it is to Coventry. They have been very helpful to me. I'll certainly be using them again soon.

However, a few people have suggested that the best mentors to use are those that have worked in your chosen industry. I am planning a business within the kit car/classic car industry selling spares - does anyone have any experience there?

Dario

 

[positiveenergy]

posted by niagra
That's not the case for me. I live in Warwick which is pretty affluent, especially when you consider how close it is to Coventry. They have been very helpful to me. I'll certainly be using them again soon.

Well lucky you. Knowing this doesn't improve the image of Business Link, it makes it worse, as it shows what a farce Business Link is when it helps some people and not others. I am only repeating what I have been told by Business Link on more than one occaision and a senior person at that. Where I live is too affluent so they can't take me on. I don't care now though because I got the support I needed from people on here a few months ago.

 

[Epindura]

From experience I found it difficult to find a mentor, most I found where only offering some generic info, where I would find those who would want to work with me on a one to one basis, I couldn't afford them.

It was not until now I found some world renowned coaches and mentors under one location for the fraction of the price fee I would be charged by an average mentor. I am talking mentors of mentors here, those who give training at co-operate level.

If you are to consult them individually, they would charge anything up to £5000 and beyond. Since I started with them, I feel I have changed a lot as a person. The reason being is you grow so much, and the beauty is its in all areas of life, i.e. you develop leadership skills, sales and marketing, communication, successful goal setting, time management and much more.

You may wish to check it out by going to my signature box, it might just be what you are looking for.

I am quiet happy to share experiences with many of you here. I enjoy Internet Marketing and have ideas on how to improve your sales, web tricks and how to use free advertising effectively.

All the best.

 

[Bruce_Andrews]

However, a few people have suggested that the best mentors to use are those that have worked in your chosen industry. I am planning a business within the kit car/classic car industry selling spares - does anyone have any experience there?

Dario

Hi Dario
if you don't get any direct response from here, send me a PM and i can point you at someone now consulting with car industry experience - and he lives just outside Rugby.

 

[Jeff-Smith]

If anyone has experience of the Motor Industry, I could do with a mentor myself, any takers?

 

[MikeBzr]

I kind of have a few people through my BNI chapter that I use as a sounding board about business issues, but no mentor as such.

With BNI, although I absolutely love it, I would feel a little apprehensive about discussing certain things because these are the people who go out and generate referrals for you, and if you're telling them things like you have doubts about whether you're up to the task of running your own business then they may be more apprehensive about referring people to you.

Ideally I'd like to find a mentor of sorts from my own profession, however in that case I'm guessing there'd always be an air of caution about discussing your ideas, clients etc; and I've heard plenty of horror stories about those kinds of arrangements.

Personally I've always been a little apprehensive about paying someone to be a mentor, can't really explain why - I guess it has to do with where their priorities lie and their motivation for helping you - I think I see it as similar to paying someone to be your friend!

 

[Velocity Dan]

Hi all, I'm a new to market business development consultant (or mentor depending on your view) and it's interesting reading the comments here. While of course, experience in a specfic field is sometimes crucial, it's not necessarily where ones issues may lie.

I am working with a successful SME motorcycle sales/workshop at the moment and have never sold or serviced a bike before! While I don't have experience in e-commerce or the motor industry, the key business drivers are the same for every business. Any mentor or BDC worth their salt will be able to assess and highlight issues across all areas of your business and have a network of professionals either within their org, or if an individual like myself, will have trusted experts in specific fields to call upon to provide additional support. But most importantly trust your own instincts.

In summary, don't look for a specifically skilled mentor - one, you'll be very lucky to find one and two, a skilled mentor/BDC AND YOU!, can solve most problems by open and honest discussion, planning and implementation.

Hope this helps.

 

[g.harding]

Hi,
What sort of help is required.? We can help if you need product development support.

Gary

 

[sm1]

Seems like there is possibly an opportunity for a business that matches up mentors with clients that are small businesses. It seems like everone here would like a mentor!!

Cheers

 

[g.harding]

We're here to help any business at any time with product development concerns or problems. We'll join any process that links new businesses with mentor businesses.

Gary

 

[sm1]

Was just a thought at the moment!

 

[Velocity Dan]

Perhaps an easier way would be for the consultantcies on the forum to become strategic alliances with one another to provide a network of multifaceted services across all UK regions and provide the broadest skillsets to potential customers. Then if someone has a specific need, they can come to the forum or local consultants and be referred as necessary. As for the consultants a referral charge could be agreed so everyone is happy.

 

[g.harding]

An interesting idea. Any thoughts son how that could work in practical terms?

Gary