The Value of Mentoring – Why I’m Proud to be a Mentor

I’m delighted and proud to share that I’ve recently become a business mentor with the Cumbria Growth Hub.

I appreciate that being ‘delighted and proud’ is one of those cliches that everyone seems to use, but, honestly, I am both of those things.

Here’s why.

Why mentoring matters to me

It’s really hard to avoid sounding like an advertisement for mentoring when I talk about it, but I can’t help it. The truth is, it’s a real passion of mine.

As a business owner, I know firsthand how hard it can be to build and grow a company. There are good days, bad days, amazing days, and even the occasional ‘get to the end of it so I can go for a lie down’ day. In the end, though, the good days and the achievement make it all worth it. The joy of creating and owning your own business is, well, almost indescribable. The pride you feel in your achievement is incredible.

It is then that you start to realise that out of all of that work you put in comes something that cannot be learned any other way.

You gain experience.

Not just in the mechanics of how to run things on a day-to-day basis. Not just in the personal growth that you need to succeed. Not just in the hard work that is needed to open and grow a successful business. Yes, obviously, do gain experience in how all those things work, but just as importantly, you learn how they all work together. That’s the experience that only comes with time.

So, what is mentoring to me?

Mentoring basically gives me the opportunity to use my experience to support others. It seems to me that if I can help by mentoring someone, perhaps to make a difference by passing on my insight, then why wouldn’t I do that?

So, just as I have had people who helped me grow Able Admin, I really want to do more and to be there to help others do the same.

For me, sometimes being a mentor means just being there and offering advice. A lot of the time, though, it is about asking the right questions, sharing lessons learned, and offering constructive encouragement when things feel tough. It’s about being a sounding board, a critical friend and a supporter, as well as a source of guidance.

When I started Able Admin, I soon realised the value of having someone to talk to about everything from my ideas to the hurdles I faced. Running a business can be a lonely place at times. It’s all on your shoulders, and sometimes you don’t know what the right path is. Although in reality, I think we usually do know the right path, we may just need confirmation of it.

We all want someone to talk it through with who will encourage but not rose-tint things. Someone who will be honest but supportive. Someone who will help brush away the bushes and undergrowth that will stop you from seeing the right path.

Mentoring can provide:

• Clarity – a way through overwhelming noise so you can focus on priorities.
• Perspective – a fresh pair of eyes and an external view of the business.
• Encouragement – the confidence to take the next step, as well as the honesty and reality checking that helps you make the right choice.
• Challenge – this is probably the one people who don’t have a mentor don’t really appreciate. Mentors are there to challenge you to think differently, sometimes creatively or more strategically, but always helping you to explore more options. The value of that cannot be overstated.

That’s why I believe mentoring is so important: it helps others avoid some of the pitfalls all business owners encounter, and it helps you to recover when you have learned the hard way and things have gone wrong.

Supporting young entrepreneurs

Starting a business can be difficult at any age, but when you’re just beginning your career, it can be doubly so. Young people often have fantastic ideas and huge energy, but they may lack experience in areas like finance, planning, or managing people. Mentoring helps ensure that talent doesn’t go to waste and that ideas can grow into successful, sustainable businesses.

As a mentor, you are working with the young person and building their confidence, supporting decision-making, and making all-important contributions when it comes to encouraging resilience.

I have recently had the pleasure of working with some young business owners, and it was a fantastic experience. If you want proof of just how talented some of our young entrepreneurs take a look at the highlights of the recent celebration of young business talent in West Cumbria.

Oh, and if you want proof that mentoring a young businessperson is as good for you as the mentor as it is for the business owners you work with, look at me grinning away at the Positive Enterprise Awards in the header image for this blog.

Mentoring established businesses

Working with young entrepreneurs is very rewarding, but many established companies face challenges too. They can struggle in areas such as managing growth, improving efficiency, or making big strategic decisions. In this situation, you often see directors who are so caught up in day-to-day operations that they don’t have the time to step back and see the bigger picture. Sometimes, just talking an issue through with someone who understands business but isn’t directly involved can unlock solutions.

Whether it’s exploring new opportunities, restructuring processes, or simply having someone to share the burden with, mentoring can open up possibilities and create focus.

The value of mentoring is in connections.

Mentoring isn’t about telling someone what to do, and it’s not all about process. It’s more about creating a safe space to share challenges, celebrate successes, and find solutions together. Whether you’re a young entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, your mentor will be there, asking the difficult questions, pointing to the clear solutions, and always providing a fresh perspective.

A good mentor is more than a guide; they are a good companion when you need one on the road to making your business a success.