MENTORS Magazine

16 | MENTORS MAGAZINE | EDITION 1

Launching or running a business is exciting.

You get to claim your independence. You can

finally make the rules. But the details can

bog you down.

When you don’t have experience, you can

get overwhelmed by questions about what

to do to ensure success or how to make

business decisions that are specific to your

industry. Mentors have been through it and

can give you their support and share their

wisdom with you.

Approximately 50 percent of small business-

es don’t last five years. However, 70 percent

of small business owners make it past that

hump when they work with advisors to build

their leadership skills as they learn and grow.

Those who want to be on the successful side

of those statistics need to make sure that

they create a solid relationship with some

type of guide or teacher who helps them

reach their full potential. Mentors need to

understand their roles so that they provide

valuable insight and create confident trail-

blazers that have the determination to run a

thriving business.

The Role of a Mentor

By Neil Ball