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Entrepreneurs Make The Most Of Your Business Mentor Relationship
Written by: Ellisa BrennemanArticle Overview: Finding a great mentor is one of the best ways to learn, to get feedback, and to take your start-up or small business to the next level. Here are ten tips for making the most of your mentoring relationships.
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Entrepreneurs Make The Most Of Your Business Mentor Relationship
Tip #1
Self-assess. Ask yourself, "What skills do I need to get where I want to go?" Don't be afraid to ask for help. We all need help and can't be the best at everything.
Tip #2
Identify your learning goals. Put them in writing and execute.
Tip #3
Decide together how the mentoring relationship will work - frequency and type of contact. Create time and space for the relationship to blossom.
Tip #4
Commit the time. Don't give up if the chemistry doesn't feel right at the first meeting. Meet a minimum of once per month. Touch base regularly - by e-mail, phone, in person. Make regular contact a priority.
Tip #5
Take time to build trust and communication. Get to know each other on a personal level. Discuss your backgrounds, interests, career histories, and perspectives of your organizations.
Tip #6
Keep confidences. Nothing kills trust in a mentoring relationship faster than a breach of confidence. Both parties need to openness that only a trusting relationship can provide.
Tip #7
Be sensitive to cultural and gender differences. Do a little homework. And listen. You learn a lot more by not talking and truly listening to what someone has to say.
Tip #8
Understand and plan for the phases of a mentoring relationship. Build in time for evaluation and closure. Accomplish your goals. Do not quit.
Tip #9
This is about learning, whether you're a protégé or a mentor. Keep a journal or document progression of the relationship.
Tip #10
You don't need a single mentor who you keep throughout your career. What you need is a mind-set that allows you to learn from those around you, no matter who they are.
In summary, to get ahead, create your own multitalented "board of advisors." Surround yourself with people who are better and smarter than you at specific tasks. Learn to listen and most importantly be humble by checking your ego at the door.
Why Small Business Entrepreneurs Need a Mentor
Q&A - Problem with a mentor
How to Find the Best Mentor for Your Needs
How To Effectively Use Business Mentoring
Why You Need a Mentor
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About the Author: Ellisa Brenneman RSS for Ellisa's articles - Visit Ellisa's website  Ellisa Brenneman started her career, after receiving her Bachelor Degree from the University of British Columbia, with the Canadian government merging academic rigor and business savvy to produce and disseminate research findings. She has been published multiple times in scientific journals for her research findings. A born entrepreneur; her zeal for entrepreneurism soon took hold. She's started green businesses and has vast experience managing public, media and investor relations for small-cap public companies. Ellisa is the President of Ethos 360. Ethos 360 provides entrepreneurs with affordable one-on-one coaching, business growth consulting, custom business plan writing, branding and capital raising services so they can launch and grow their businesses. Visit www.Ethos360.com for additional information, email info@Ethos360.com or phone 503-501-2444 to schedule a free consultation. Click here to visit Ellisa's website   Memorandum Template 1 Memorandum Template 2 |
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Top 19 Copywriting books
- 1. Ogilvy on Advertising. David Ogilvy. Wiley.
2. Positioning: The Battle for your Mind. Al Ries and Jack Trout. Warner.
3. The New Positioning. Jack Trout. McGraw-Hill.
4. Tested Advertising Methods. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
5. How to Make your Advertising Make Money. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
6. Guerrilla Advertising. Jay Conrad Levinson. Houghton Mifflin.
7. Direct Mail Copy that Sells. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
8. Sales Letters that Sizzle. Herschell Gordon Lewis. NTC Business Books.
9. Herschell Gordon Lewis on the Art of Writing Copy. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
10. Romancing the Brand. David Martin. American Management Association.
11. The Art of Writing Advertising: Conversations with William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, George Gribbin, David Ogilvy, Rosser Reeves. NTC Business Books.
12. Confessions of an Advertising Man. David Ogilvy. NTC Business Books.
13. My Life in Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
14. Scientific Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
15. How to Become an Advertising Man. James Webb Young. NTC Business Books.
16. The Lasker Story as He Told It. NTC Business Books.
17. Advertising Concept and Copy. George Felton. Prentice Hall.
18. The Copy WorkShop Workbook. Bruce Bendinger. The Copy Workshop.
19. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads. Luke Sullivan. Wiley.
This should keep you busy for at least a year.
Enjoy!
My entry
- 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read
- this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto.
3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book
Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Famous Entrepreneur Question?
- First name to come to mind was Sam Walton. After reading his aoutbiography, I feel so connected to him.
My one Question would be...(after getting on one knee)
"Would You Mentor Me?''
Elevator Pitch in 10 Words
- "Winning Business Design For Aspiring Entrepreneurs Based On Their Idea"
Re: Quote of the Day - "The only people witho
- Thanks for sharing this Evan, there are some very powerful quotes in there, I particularly like this one:-
You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.
regards,
Mal.
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