What do you do if you're a small business owner struggling to find a mentor in your niche industry?

There are many resources available to businesses at no cost such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and more. SCORE is a volunteer organization that has former and current entrepreneurs, CEOs, etc. from a variety of industries. The other organizations are staffed with advisors that may have general experience or specific industry experience. It's a great start to find a mentor and most importantly, once you find a mentor, be engaged and learn as much as you can.

Be humble and ask those you respect in your vertical for help in an open and transparent manner. Position the mentorship as beneficial to both parties as your novice perspective can often be a breath of fresh air to a veteran professional.

Go to SCORE.org - free and experienced professionals openly volunteering their time to help you. This is across all industries and is even searchable

What I am seeing more of is people finding someone that compliments their existing business and joining forces together. This is because it is getting harder for small businesses. I was always told two heads are better than one. Remember the phrase "You have not because you ask not." Who have you not asked?

One can use the SMART framework in identifying Goals for the small business.The goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time based The framework will allow the small business owner to write down a very specific goal that they can keep referring to

Getting in stretching room! Networking with individuals in the same industry as you can be powerful. Seek out industry events, forums, and associations to connect with like-minded peers facing similar challenges. Sharing experiences and insights within these communities can lead to valuable mentorship opportunities and support networks! This can be a cornerstone in your small business!

Gib ein relevantes Stichwort für deine Branche bei LinkedIn in das Suchfeld ein. Klicke dann auf "Personen", damit du nur Profile angezeigt bekommst. Dann auf "Alle Filter" und dort unter "Servicekategorien" 1-2 passende auswählen. So grenzt du abermals die Personengruppe ein, die sich mit deinem ganz spezifisches Thema auskennt. Jetzt kannst du die Ergebnisliste durchforsten nach passenden Mentoren.

This can be done by checking out for industry workshops both online or print media.Also joining professional bodies can help if its possible Searching online platforms like linkedin can also be helpful

3 Not So Popular Options: 1. Network with your competitors. For many Small Business Owners this is not the first thought, however, consider this, if it's a problem for you, it's a problem for them. 2. Ask for exactly what you need/looking for. It can be hard to put it out there, that you need help but we can spend too much time alone in the secret search. Let people help. 3. Use LinkedIn - Connect with other professionals who serve similar clients as you and set up 30min virtual networking coffee chats. Even if they don't do exactly what you do there is still tremendous value!

There is always ways to serve others. Do your homework, and offer to work for them for free. How can you help improve their lives. I once drove 7 hours to help someone I admired sell his books after his speaking gig. In return he spent an hour one to one coaching…priceless!

Reaching out can be difficult because people fear rejection but one of the simple ways to begin is by seeking what you and your potential mentor has in common then use that to break the ice when reaching out

Build a relationship by ensuring there's trust..Trust takes time to build.That can mean allowing for things to follow it's course but have long-term view in mind.for example if potential mentor is not available for sessions in the beginning then not getting frustrated

Be proactive in seeking mentorship by reaching out to industry experts through networking events, online communities, or social media platforms. Demonstrate genuine interest in their expertise and experiences to build a meaningful connection. Clearly articulate your expectations and goals for the mentorship, outlining how their guidance can benefit your business growth. Show commitment and dedication to the mentorship relationship by actively seeking advice, implementing feedback, and updating them on your progress. Stay open to learning from various sources and be persistent in your search for a mentor who aligns with your values and vision.

Always remember there is strength in numbers. Networking and mentoring with individuals in the same industry as you can be powerful. Seeking out like-minded folks facing similar challenges is empowering. Whether a novice or well traveled professional by sharing experiences and insights can lead to valuable growth for all! This can be a cornerstone in your small business!

Maintaining the relationship should and does take intention. A couple of things I do to maintain those relationships is to prioritize regular meetings with my mentors, usually once a month, but I don't hesitate to reach out in the interim if I have a hot-button topic that I am seeking more immediate mentoring around. I think it's important to come to the regularly scheduled meetings with at least 1 strategic and/or tactical topic to present for mentoring. Sometimes I find myself knee-deep in a tactical problem, while on other occasions, I may need/want to spend time, in advance of the meeting, considering a strategic topic to present to my mentor(s) for discussion.

The lens I use, when looking for a business coach or mentor, is to ask: “what is it that I need to learn right now to move the business forward?” That helps me identify the kind of expertise and focus I want to search for. Then I start talking about it with the people I know in my network. I’ve benefited from being a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) for a long time. That has given me access to a vast network that has made it easy to find people that have the expertise I need. Then I just have to meet them and filter for values alignment.

You don’t have to find one that is in the same industry as you are. Find someone you admire. Choose one who has the qualities and skills you want to embrace. You don’t have to start from the beginning, start from where the last person left off and move forward. That’s how we learn and grow.

I have found that most of what is in this post I found in my association group. National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers. Great group of people, kind of like a family for our profession. We meet for a meal regularly with some education, and the discussion is very open.