Mentoring success – It doesn't always mean you stick with the business.
August 29, 2008 · → No Comments - Make Comment
This is me with my mentoree, Kerrie Rahme.
I was Kerrie’s mentor on the the NSW Women in Business Mentoring Program. Kerrie graduated from the program last Wednesday 27 August- with her fellow mentorees at a special gathering at the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
Mentoring Kerrie and in her business – Baby Hire Stuff
Kerrie and I commenced the six month mentoring program with the understanding that I would help guide and support her through the journey of being a woman running a new business and coming to terms with the multiple and complex challenges that go with that.
At the end of the program – Kerrie made the decision to stop running her business. Is this a sign of failure or success as a mentor?
Is the objective of successful mentoring to keep a person in business – or to help them realise when its time to step OUT of it or make significant changes?
Here’s what Kerrie has to say about the mentoring process – with me.
I had the great fortune of being matched with Sue Liu of Zulu Communications when I joined the 2008 Women in Business Mentoreeship Program.
I joined the program to help with my short-term baby equipment hire service, Baby Hire Stuff. I was happily going along using what I like to call “the hummingbird approach”. That is, fluttering between enjoyable tasks, following all my bright ideas and ignoring less pleasant tasks for another day. What I desperately needed was a strong rudder to guide my wandering business. Someone to get me to face some facts about my business and confront the hard stuff head-on.
Sue instantly recognised that the little that I had in the way of marketing materials were mismatched and did not communicate the essence of my business to my customers. She mentored me through commissioning a gorgeous logo, getting business cards printed, aligning my website and making sure I came up with a flyer that I could be proud of.
Sue knew when to speed me up and when to slow me down. She got me to focus on how my business was perceived in the market place, and how to manipulate that perception.
After doing the hard work with Sue it came to light that my business was not as viable as I thought it was, nor was it really what I wanted in the longer term. I am now working on another business, Burwood Olympic Park Stays. I can apply what I have learnt with Sue on my new venture. The lessons have been learned and the skills are transferable. The experience has all been so valuable and is getting me to closer each day to business success.
Ever stoic and proactive, it is obvious that she just “gets” marketing. If you don’t get it, or even if you think you do and are wondering why you are not getting results, I recommend you get Sue onboard to get serious about your business and really take it to the next level. Kerrie Rahme
Mentoring is a way to help you make those hard decisions in business.
Knowing what next steps to take in businesses is never easy. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in business 12 months, 2 years or 12 years – the nature of your challenges change – but the challenges themselves will always be there.
Some times – you just need someone who will listen, take stock of your situation and have the experience and confidence to “tell it to you straight” or give you the support or inspiration to take some action.
Zulu Can help YOU
Business Confidante – gets your business heading in the right direction. It’s NOT coaching – Business Confidante is a unique blend of business facilitation, mentoring and consultancy designed to help the decision makers in a business gain clarity, direction and control. Click here for more information
Next Get Real event – Friday 31 October – Come and have lunch with other business owners – GET REAL, be open and honest and discuss your challenges without fear of judgement or criticism. Click here to find out more
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