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This is a question I was asked before dawn this morning during an interview with European motivational speaker, Daniel Weinstock, for his podcast. My immediate answer was yes.
Partly because I have mentors, and I’ve grown significantly as a business owner through the work I’ve done since I started working with them. Partly because of the growth journey I’ve observed my clients travel along as I sit in the privileged position of being their mentor.
But mostly it’s because I believe so whole-heartedly in the dangers of remaining isolated as business owners and entrepreneurs.
We surround ourselves with those who love us, but not necessarily with those who get what we deal with on a daily basis as business owners.
It’s a tough and sometimes lonely road, if you let it be. If you stay stuck in isolation. And it is for this reason that I believe finding a mentor who you can resonate with and who you can trust is vital. Someone who’s been there, done that, got the battle scars to prove it.
If we stay isolated, we risk internalising blame for any business troubles. We begin to believe that we suck at this gig. We start to think it’s our fault. Over time this can lead to burnout and even mental health concerns.
But with the right mentor, we quickly realise that ALL businesses hit rough patches. ALL business owners have these doubts about their capabilities sometimes. We ALL want to run off hide some days. I have absolutely experienced this myself.
I have felt that I was utterly alone. That no-one in the world understood what I was facing during the darkest days of my business.
I felt it was all my fault. If only I was a better business owner I would have avoided staffing issues, financial stress, revenue dramas, marketing dilemmas, and that mountain of bills and avalanche of unanswered emails.
But I was wrong. If we step into business ownership, this is the gig. It is up and down, and frequently sideways. It will not be smooth sailing.
But be honest. If you wanted smooth sailing you’d still be in that safe government job, right? So, embrace the thrill of the ride, but take a buddy with you. Find a mentor who can keep you honest, help you steer straight, and laugh at your bad business jokes.
Otherwise, you just might drown. And we don’t want that! It is through the support, normalization, and validation that comes with working with an experienced mentor that we build a pressure release valve. And that right there is expert self-care!
Much love, Tess x
