Startups: Benefit of Mentors

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey

Why is mentoring important?

How do you walk through an unfamiliar path? Would you prefer to walk it alone, in a group or do it with the help of a mentor? Who you are aware has expertise in your sector with years of experience hand-holding through your entrepreneurial journey you're about to embark on. Mentors are guides to help you minimise errors and risk of failures in business and life. "To experience exponential growth and success in business" - mentoring is key.

A research carried out on CEO’s mentoring programs (Harvard Business Review 2015):

• 84% said mentors had helped them avoid costly mistakes
• 84% become proficient in their roles faster
• 69% were making better decisions

I have always desired mentoring and is often met with the roadblock of rejection and NO's and I never gave up: The negative response is mostly due to the face they don't know me directly 'Trust Issues'! 

Although, since the inception of Learntor with the sole focus to bridge the digital skill gap with hands-on practical experience. Mentors' have offered to mentor me. 'A nobody that was rejected and never considered unless I forcefully grab opportunities without compromising my integrity. Now, Confidently with profound gratitude and humility: I have powerful and brilliant minds offering me mentorship Mrs Toyin F Sanni, Mrs Adeola Azeez, Mrs Margaret Jackson, Mr Wole Abu and Mr Kingsley Uranta. I am overwhelmed extremely feel underserving, feeling like a dream and sincerely I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. 

With these mentors, Learntor will bridge the digital skill gap amongst women and empower them through our peer-to-peer mentoring gaining hands-on skills to grow and scale their businesses.

Three out of "top 20 Billionaires" in the world has given validity to mentoring: One cannot compete in any industry today without the help and guidance of a mentor. 

Facebook Co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg said Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple Inc.) was one of his many mentors. Similarly, Bill Gates, Founder and Technology Adviser of Microsoft Warren Buffet as one of his mentors, adviser and business partner. Last but not least, Lawrence Edward Page and Sergey Brin of Google, were both mentored by (the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011) Eric Schmidt. 

Who is a mentor? 

A mentor is a coach, guide, tutor, facilitator, counsellor, trusted adviser. or someone willing to share their time and expertise with a mentee (one seeking mentoring). A mentor has passed through the tough times in their businesses, equipped with tested and trusted business solutions that will help you achieve outstanding success. They are like an experienced sailor who has seen it all - even when the storm is at its highest, they know exactly what to do. 

Time and availability is a challenge for many mentors especially for Nigerian mentors as it is relatively a new concept embraced by a few and they are overwhelmed with many mentees. Some mentees feel entitled not respecting boundaries and lacking the clarity that mentors are not their 'piggy bank'.

A few benefits of Mentors

#1. Mentoring guarantees business growth

#2. "Helpful counsel" To reduce risk and minimise errors

#3. Open doors with easy access networking opportunities

#4. Brand Ambassadors

#5. Strong Cheerleader with a supportive mentoring structure

When the student is ready, the master appears. — Anonymous 

In a mentor-mentee relationship, boundaries must be respected. This is one of the reasons many celebrities and successful individuals don't make themselves available to mentor anyone. They want their privacy, they want their space, and they have more than enough to deal with already and would not want to spoon-feed a mentee who doesn't respect boundaries or understand his or her position in the relationship. Irrespective of the challenges, Mentees should understand the responsibilities expected of them, they should also desire, value and appreciate mentoring.

 “You know, you do need mentors, but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself.” — Diana Ross