Why Early-Stage Mentoring Matters

The importance of mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SME) cannot be overstated.  For a budding entrepreneur, ignorance is not bliss, it is death.  Knowledge and experienced tactical guidance through the start-up minefield is crucial to its success.  Having the support and encouragement of one or several business-savvy, quality mentors is arguably one of an entrepreneur’s most valuable assets, and is an indispensable ingredient, not only to a start-up’s survival but to its successful and profitable growth over the long term [http://www.raizcorp.com/].

Mentoring is a powerful personal development tool that supplies eager SME entrepreneurs with a treasure trove of new knowledge and experienced points of view to enhance business performance.  Consistent contact between the mentor and mentee is crucial to the relationship’s success.  Regularly scheduled meetings and collaborations provide a reliable setting in which to problem solve and exchange ideas.

A mentor provides practical advice from a fresh point of view and can give needed direction to avoid potential stumbling blocks or making costly but avoidable mistakes that undermine the success and growth of the enterprise.  A valuable mentor is a confident and seasoned veteran who will patiently impart the expertise and skills gained through years of entrepreneurial trial and error that the entrepreneur needs to learn in order to stay on track and remain focussed on the venture’s development.  Mentoring ensures that the momentum of the start-up does not dissipate while the entrepreneur absorbs information and formulates next steps.  As a seasoned entrepreneur, a mentor understands and communicates the importance of meeting critical and often time-sensitive developmental milestones.  Urgency in decision-making and timely plan execution is a mentor’s ongoing objective.

As the mentor-mentee relationship flourishes, the entrepreneur gains exposure to previously unidentified valuable business connections and affiliations, thereby increasing networking capabilities and extending the venture’s reach with new contacts, resources and potential customers.