Has anyone here had a mentor?

[martin-s]

I've been thinking about what I need to do to push my business onto the next level - and considering finding a mentor as part of that.

Has anyone here had a mentor? Either a deliberate or accidental one?

Did you find it useful? How did they help you?

I'm really interested to provoke a discussion on this.

 

[martin-s]

35. Not with your completely typical career story, but not totally unusual either I guess.

I came out of uni at 22 and accepted a job from my first interview to work with two directors in a fledgling software company. I played a fairly big (technical) part in helping to grow that to 35 staff before leaving to start my own firm in 2006/2007.

Have run that ever since with some success but have had challenges with finding the right staff to really grow it like it deserved.

 

[spiderspider]

Yup. Had one a number of years ago through the Princes Trust. I got a grant to start a business, and as part of that, I had to have a mentor.

The mentor was highly experienced. I was dubious, as his area of expertise wasn't in my business niche. However, it worked well and I was able to see how many areas of different business bits overlap. Plus, at the end of the day, a balance sheet is just that, weather you sell hosting or make your own cup cakes.

Also, having someone from outside the niche, it was useful to pitch advertising ideas at, and get their views on different bits and pieces.

It worked well, and I had a kick up the arse when needed, and a person to share the problems with, who understood what those issues were.

My mentor was a Doctor of business strategy, worked at top uni's in the UK and USA, ran some very successful firms, Google their name and it brings up hundreds of news articles on major news sites, now retired, and spending their day being a mentor.

But likewise, I have spoken to some people who's mentors sound terrible.

 

[AssetDomains]

With the right person I'm guessing it could be a great idea.

I'm not sure if your business fits with what they do but have a look at

http://www.potential.co.uk/

Doug is a member on here I believe.

 

[Retired_Member38]

Yup. Had one a number of years ago through the Princes Trust. I got a grant to start a business, and as part of that, I had to have a mentor.

The mentor was highly experienced. I was dubious, as his area of expertise wasn't in my business niche. However, it worked well and I was able to see how many areas of different business bits overlap. Plus, at the end of the day, a balance sheet is just that, weather you sell hosting or make your own cup cakes.

Also, having someone from outside the niche, it was useful to pitch advertising ideas at, and get their views on different bits and pieces.

It worked well, and I had a kick up the arse when needed, and a person to share the problems with, who understood what those issues were.

My mentor was a Doctor of business strategy, worked at top uni's in the UK and USA, ran some very successful firms, Google their name and it brings up hundreds of news articles on major news sites, now retired, and spending their day being a mentor.

But likewise, I have spoken to some people who's mentors sound terrible.

I think it would all depend what exactly your business was. If it is heavily reliant on sourcing web traffic like mines is (and i suspect it will be the same for most members here), then I don't think your average mentor could help you.

Someone bloke in his 60's might have run several hugely successful multi million £ companies but as far as he'll be concerned, Panda and Penguins are something you see in a zoo.

 

[Retired_Member42]

Panda and Penguins are something you see in a zoo.

 

[martin-s]

Yes, it would need to be someone highly web-savvy, but not all mentors are going to be 60 surely? You could be 20 for all I care, if you were any good

 

[Leeroy]

I have, Chris Holland. Top guy. I was 19 years old with not much going for me bar a professional rugby league contract, in which truth be told wasn't much better than being on benefits and doing fuck all.

Chris Holland, paid me to work for him, learned me how to approach end users and gave me the tools to still be in the game full time 8 years later. Chris also gave me much of my start up money for being in this game alone and i have never looked back.

I see a lot of shit posed about Chris on the forums, but take it from me, he is a wealthy and top guy who i owe everything to.

 

[DaveP]

I have, Chris Holland. Top guy....

How did you and Chris meet?

 

[Leeroy]

How did you and Chris meet?

Through my father in law Patrick, they are best of friends. Do you know Mr Holland?

 

[Retired_member41]

Through my father in law Patrick, they are best of friends. Do you know Mr Holland?

Ah so your father in law is tag patc who is friends of lots of people looking at some tag changes over last years

Gets some great domains.

 

[Leeroy]

Ah so your father in law is tag patc who is friends of lots of people looking at some tag changes over last years

Gets some great domains.

Not sure about the great domains but that is his TAG .

 

[Leeroy]

?....

 

[julian]

..is that Patrick Cummings?

he gave me a good bit of advice about 7 years ago and basically said stop pissing about, price each one at £249, send it on a headed letter out to a few buyers, watch the sales roll in

- 2 of those a day is ok isn't it?

 

[martin-s]

Has inflation had any impact?

 

[AssetDomains]

..is that Patrick Cummings?

he gave me a good bit of advice about 7 years ago and basically said stop pissing about, price each one at £249, send it on a headed letter out to a few buyers, watch the sales roll in

- 2 of those a day is ok isn't it?

Did you do it did it work

 

[accelerator]

I've been thinking about what I need to do to push my business onto the next level - and considering finding a mentor as part of that.

Has anyone here had a mentor? Either a deliberate or accidental one?

Did you find it useful? How did they help you?

I'm really interested to provoke a discussion on this.

Martin

I'm always happy to chat about business related issues, although I don't think I would act as a mentor, more as an encourager and ideas person.

I think there are plenty of potential mentors in the tech startup and VC community, you can find them on Twitter. Marc Andreessen @pmarca is a well known VC who you could start to follow. I'm at @accx if you want to follow. If you look at who I follow you'll probably find some further people of interest.

Rgds

 

[accelerator]

Also, here's what the Goverment's doing:

http://www.techcityuk.com/about_us

Rgds