Are You Being Mentored?
March 12, 2010
By Cat Matson, Alito
Many people often think they need to establish a ‘formal’ mentoring relationship in order to receive the benefits. But I often find mentoring … and the benefits that come with it … can be a bit more organic.
A mentor is considered a trusted friend, counselor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. In the business context, we often look for mentors who are ‘ahead’ of us in their business pursuits … someone from whom we can learn valuable lessons and gain insights based on their experience.
I know I’ve found it hard to find mentors in my time as a business owner … and when I have been ‘partnered’ up with someone ‘older and wiser’ I’ve found the structure of the relationship limiting. For example there was a time when I was paired up with a renown female business leader - literally a leader in her industry. We had a couple of chats over coffee, but I didn’t actually receive a lot of benefit from the ‘chats’. What I really needed was to be able to talk to her more informally - when an idea came to me, or when I hit a snag in my plan … it would have been great to just pick up the phone and have a chat about it.
That experience taught me that there are many ways to be mentored. Just ‘watching’ other people and how they do things is a mentoring experience for me - I ask myself ‘what would happen in my business if I took that approach?’ The different perspective yields interesting responses.
Then there’s the people I hang out with - they wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves my mentors … but I learn an incredible amount by bouncing ideas around with them.
Or there have been times when I’ve looked at high-profile business owners, for example the late Anita Roddick, or Richard Branson and asked myself ‘what would they do in this situation? Of course, it’s largely an exercise in imagination and mind-reading … however if you’re even half the avid-reader I am, you get to learn a lot about Business Leaders just by voyeuristically watching how they run their business.
Then there’s the people I hang out with - they wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves my mentors … but I learn an incredible amount by bouncing ideas around with them. Some of my most valuable insights have come from my clients - the people who are paying me for my expertise - but when I watch their approach I feel I too am being mentored.
There is of course incredible value in creating formal mentoring relationships - I consistently hear amazing things about the ABN’s MentorNet Program and I by all means encourage you to get involved in such programs when you can. But if for whatever reason you can’t establish a formal mentoring relationship with someone, remember you can receive the benefits of mentoring in other ways.
For more information about the MentorNet mentoring program for women business owners, visit the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website.
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Cat Matson - Alito
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| Phone: | 07 3289 7055 |
| Email: | cat@alito.com.au |
| Website: | www.alito.com.au |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/catmatson |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/AlitoFusion |
| LinkedIn: | www.linkedin.com/in/CatMatson |
| Blog: | www.alito.com.au/blog |
| Member Profile: | See Cat’s Member Profile |
How MentorNet helped retailer Sarah Ladyman overcome business challenges
February 2, 2010
Sarah Ladyman knew that her corporate job just wasn’t right for her. She had dreamed of running her own business ever since reading The E-Myth Revisited shortly after high school. She was unhappy in the corporate world, and she knew that she wanted to work with her true passion, food.
“In the kitchen, I found a real love for food and a new appetite to please others through their stomachs!” says Sarah. “After sharing a few batches of home-made relish (made from a tweaked family recipe from New Zealand), I found that other people had an appetite for tasty, fresh, natural food, too.”
Sarah wanted to devote her time and energy to her passion. She knew that other people enjoyed her relish, but she lacked the business contacts and confidence necessary to build on her new business. Then she discovered MentorNet, a mentor program for businesswomen which gave her the information, contacts, and impetus she needed to develop a successful business from her own kitchen.
“Initially, my confidence in my product and my abilities was a huge challenge,” Sarah remembers. “Why would someone really want, let alone pay for, a little product I make in my own kitchen? Being from New Zealand, I also found that I really lacked business support and contacts here in Australia, so starting a business outside of my home country and away from my family’s contacts was difficult. I also struggled with the financial forecasting, budgeting, and planning requirements for a start-up.”
“It’s like having a personal trainer for your business.”
Now Sarah’s company relish this delivers healthy, tasty, saucy preserve products to addicted customers across Australia and New Zealand as well as the U.S. and U.K. Sarah’s passion for healthy food has developed into a thriving company with a registered brand and trademark, an ecommerce site, and a devoted following. Using local, fresh Australian products, Sarah makes natural, gluten-free, home-made quality relishes with innovative flavors such as “Beetroot Apple n Orange” and “Balsamic Red Onion ‘n’ Lime.”
“The MentorNet program, my mentor, and my pod members all helped me overcome my initial challenges,” says Sarah. “I found the interactive environment to be open and nurturing, which grew my business confidence as well as my business network. The business planning and financial chapters within the course covered the main areas with which I struggled by giving real examples of cash flow forecasting, templates, and business case studies.”
“To have a mentor to hold you accountable for tasks you’ve promised to complete is highly motivational,” Sarah continues. “Especially for particular tasks you keep putting off. You can’t put off your mentor! It’s like having a personal trainer for your business.”
“Peers in your pod group also help motivate you. Like you, they are trying to learn as much as possible and improve their business. The more we put into it, the more each of us got out of it. Overall, the program provides a motivating platform for anyone in business as it promotes success, builds knowledge, and nurtures networking.”
MentorNet provided Sarah with the tools she needed to set realistic goals and the newfound confidence she needed to actually achieve those goals. The program transformed Sarah’s start-up idea into a profitable business. Sarah says that the perspective provided by MentorNet “made my goals bigger, more aggressive, and in line with my business plan.”
“I’m a bit of a control freak,” laughs Sarah. “So it’s no surprise that I enjoy making the decisions and being the boss of my business! I like the accountability and freedom I get from managing my own creation and ultimately the flexibility to basically do what I want. It’s very empowering,”
Sarah also enjoys empowering other businesswomen. “I enjoy telling my story to others to hopefully give them the inspiration to do something for themselves too. Relish this. Relish me!”
If you’re ready to get out of the rat race if you’re ready to relish yourself and your freedom register for MentorNet now.
Unhappy in the corporate world Sarah Ladyman left her IT/Marketing job to take some time out to trial an ‘allaboutme.com’ approach. She fell into the kitchen and found a real love for food and an appetite to please others through their stomachs. After sharing a few batches of home-made relish with friends and family, she began looking at the possibility of taking relish to market…literally. So combining her passions to empower (and feed) others with fresh, tasty, saucy stuff, she created relish this.
Recently relish this. has grown from a ‘foodie experimenting in a kitchen’ to saucy relish products delivered and devoured across Australia and NZ (some jars even hiding in luggage and sneaking into the US and UK!).
Website: www.relishthis.com.au
Blog: www.relishthis.com.au/blog
Not sure if you’re MentorReady? Apply for a free 30-minute business consultation (normally $95).
Use coupon code: CONSULT to get this valuable session for free.
Business Mentor gives business owner know how to run a business
October 27, 2009
On 23 August the Sun Herald newspaper featured Julia Nekich of The Ideas Suite who participated in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s MentorNet mentoring program. The story, titled, Your Guide to Greatness, explored the role a mentor can play in the growth and success of a small business.
The Sun-Herald | 23 August 2009
The MentorNet program provides women with a qualified business mentor and six months of business skills training. Learn my by calling 1300 720 120 today.
In less than a week an important business opportunity starts
October 7, 2009
MentorNet Starts on 12 October
It’s the same opportunity that over 200 women business owners have used to grow their business, improve their business skills, increase their confidence, expand their networks, overcome business obstacles…
MentorNet has really inspired me to keep looking for new ideas and new things to learn
October 7, 2009
Sue Stevens
I have so thoroughly enjoyed the way each MentorNet module has been presented. It was in such a user-friendly form and it built on. Each month was another piece to the puzzle, and there were pieces of the puzzle that I hadn’t even considered yet. So I’m really, really grateful for the way that it was put together. I learnt and now I am learning. I didn’t know I didn’t know, and now I know. And there’s just so much more out there and it’s really inspired me to keep looking for new ideas and new things to learn. I really enjoy that process. And I’m truly grateful for the support.
I think someone mentioned that they don’t feel like they’re alone any more. Sometimes when I’m working on my own, I can feel like I’m the only one, and I’m really grateful for that, the networks and the small focus groups that we’ve formed. We meet every six weeks, and that’s lovely to meet people with a common goal and a common bond. I feel like I’m still being supported by the ABN to go into The Know-How Now! webinar series from MentorNet. I’m really looking forward to every fortnight - having another Webinar to attend and still get my fix of Webinars. And I just love Suzi and Stella, nothing seems to faze you. Every week you turn up and no matter what problems present it’s all run so smoothly and I’m just terribly grateful that the ABN exists. So well done, thank you.
Sue Stevens
McLaren Street Clinic
Do you have a shotgun approach to success?
September 2, 2009
Do you jump from task to busy task hoping to get ahead with no specific, defined target of what you’re trying to achieve? Do you avoid making commitments that could net you a more substantial result if you invested the time? Successful business owners (and those on their way) would say ‘No.’ to these questions. But what’s true for most small businesses?
Recently I spent and hour with the mentors on our current MentorNet mentoring program, getting updated on how they are doing working with their mentorees. We are just over three months into the six month program (which combines business training and mentoring) and the good news is that the mentors reported that their mentorees are doing well and that those that are participating actively are seeing the results. They’re achieving the goals they set when they started the program.
Do you have a shotgun approach to marketing?
But, I don’t have time!
The conversation moved to talk about how the time, energy and commitment it takes to take part in a six-month program (even though the commitment is a couple of hours a week) sees some people go full-tilt into the program. These women know that this is EXACTLY where they need to put their energy if they are going to turn their ‘GOOD’ businesses into ‘GREAT’ businesses and yet others find excuses to not make the commitment (of time, energy and money) to grow their business.
One mentor (who works with small business owners regularly) commented how sometimes feels like shaking up his clients and saying: “You’re ruining your chance to be a great business by not going in one consistent direction, by not getting good financial skills, good substantial knowledge and direction.”
Instead these businesses were taking a shot-gun approach to business success rather than consolidating.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re road to success is shot-gun or considered and planned, as long as you get there. Our experience is that a business mentor, good education and your commitment to start and finish a process (such as a mentoring program) is what reaps the rewards.
Suzi
PS If you’d like to learn more about the MentorNet mentoring program for women in business, visit the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website, Or contact us today for your free Are You Mentor Ready? business consultation, valued at $95.
Are you struggling through a maze, or heading direct to your business outcomes?
August 25, 2009
If you’re like most women you work hard, put in the hours and now and then need to take a step back to refocus on the big picture.
When you’re the head of a business, you can often suffer from ‘lonely at the top’ syndrome. Without a sounding board or someone who understands what you face as you make decisions to shape your business future, you can go off course.
- Small Business Consultation Valued at $95. Yours free.
Is this you?
I have…
• Started a business
• Feel stuck about how to grow
• Need more business skills
• Need support and guidance
Here’s a maze short cut direct to your business goals…
• A. Discover where you are
• B. Determine where you want to be
• Discover the gaps between A. and B.
• Put in place a plan to get to your end point.
• Put in place a system/support structure to help you get there.
… then one of the quickest ways I’ve seen for getting out of a fog and finding true clarity on your business goals is to actively work with someone who can be objective.
That’s why I want to introduce you to someone here at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network who has worked with over 200 members to help them get a big-picture view of their business and to refocus on what’s important.
Stella De Zotti has helped over 200 members:
• Clarify business goals
• Get a snapshot of where a business needs the most help
• Get support and a clear direction for the business
And, she’s there to do the same for you too.
All you need to do is set up a time to have your complimentary consultation. Call now on 1300 720 120 or register online now.
How to Book Your Consultation
The Business Consultation is valued at $95. However, you receive the consultation at no charge when you register using the special coupon code: CONSULT. Limited places are available in Stella’s schedule so register now for your consultation. Once registered you will receive a call to arrange a time that suits you.
Note: To be eligible for the consultation you must have been operating full time in your own business for a minimum of six months.
You’ll be amazed how crystalising where you are and where you want to go will free up your energy to take on your business challenges with a winning attitude.
Register today for your free consultation.
Learn more about MentorNet here.
I have increased my confidence and become very inspired
August 25, 2009
Tracee Shifferle | Pet Carers
When I first applied to do the MentorNet program, I was still working part time as an employee and after speaking to Stella (MentorNet’s Program Manager) about the program, I felt inspired enough to resign from my job and work on the business full-time.
That was a huge leap for me because working part time was my security blanket. It was holding me back, I guess. If I had not participated in the program, it makes me wonder where I’d be now… six months down the track. I live and breathe what I’ve been learning. I just haven’t written it down yet. What a challenge.
It’s wonderful being able to share my business the mentor and the other mentorees in my pod and it just helped keep me on track. I’ve certainly increased my confidence and become very inspired by everything I’ve learned. Like I said, I really wonder where I’d be now had I not participated in the program.
Tracee Shifferle
Pet Carers
I discovered my own self worth
August 20, 2009
Jeanelle Sutton Yeomans
I believe the biggest advantage for myself and in turn my business was the confidence that I obtained from participating in this course. That confidence has now overflowed into all aspects of our business including the fees we charge and the way we negotiate with our clients and partner organizations in various countries. It is reassuring when you have enough faith in your own abilities to say: The service we provide is specialised. These are our fees and charges. Our product and our time is worth this amount of money. I think that was probably the biggest lesson for me, discovering my own self worth.
Being able to talk to people who have common goals and are like-minded is invaluable. Working in your own business isolates you from other business people in many ways. I’ve enjoyed meeting all the fabulous people in my pod and listening to the wealth of knowledge that’s been presented. We’re all in very diverse businesses, but we have very similar issues to deal with and having another’s perspective has been fantastic.
The new technology has been wonderful, too. I’m utilizing these marketing tools more and more and I think that’s really going to help my business grow substantially. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be able to participate. Thank you very much.
Jeanelle Sutton Yeomans
Koo-ee Experience Australia
MentorNet inspired me to be more courageous
August 12, 2009
Sharon Whiteman
Firstly I’m grateful for the opportunity and the invitation, so thank you. I must say that I was very inspired by my Pod Members. I found them to be authentic and courageous in sharing both pitfalls and wins. The women were determined and took the program step-by-step with professionalism. For each mentoree, different modules triggered varying levels of challenge for them depending on their background, but they just hit it head-on. I found this very inspiring and it inspired me to be more courageous in my areas of challenge in my business. I found out Pod Members very creative in offering ideas to each other – the brainstorming was very powerful and potent. Each business woman came up with suggestions that the rest of the group hadn’t thought of and could take away and implement in their businesses.
Beyond the inspiration and passion of the mentorees, a personal win for me was that I found it validating of my choices and how far I had come from where I started in skill development. I also chose to take it as a challenge to me to be even better in business. I found the whole program to be successful…and Suzi, you’re an inspiration. So, thank you.
Sharon Whiteman
Richer Lives
