MENTORSHIP ROADSHOW: GOING FURTHER TOGETHER

What do you do when you become   stuck solving a problem?

Search online. Read articles. Ask a friend. Reflect. Ask an expert. Or all of the above.

As an entrepreneur, I am always faced with solving new challenges and struggle with finding the right person to ask for advice. No matter what article I read or event I attend to sharpen my entrepreneurial skills, it never equals a five-minute heart-to-heart conversation with someone who is more experienced than I am. The challenge is the more successful someone becomes, the harder it is to get a 1:1 time with them.

What if there was a way to get 1:1 mentor advice from entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs?

This was the question my friends and I asked ourselves as we looked at our entrepreneurial journeys. And this is how the mentorship roadshow was born. With the Beacon DC grant we received, Julia Westfall from Hera Hub DC, Liz Whitehead12PointFive and I teamed up to host the first event on January 20, 2018, in Washington, DC. We identified 11 female entrepreneurs who can provide critical advice during 1:1 mentoring sessions. Over 40 female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs were able to match with one or more session. It was a powerful reminder of how empowering in-person connection and conversation can be. Every participant had a personal coaching session with at least one mentor and connected with another entrepreneur who reminded them that they are not alone.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we wanted to reflect and share the lessons we learned from the mentors during the event and celebrate the many amazing paths female entrepreneurs continue to take to grow and build. Though this won’t be the same as the 1:1 in person, we hope these nuggets of wisdom from our mentors remind you how you can continue to take your career to the next level. Let us know which advice resonated with you the most.

HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!

“Resist being perfect. Just get out there. Get things out and get feedback from people.”

– Kimberly Moore, Founder of GoTogether. This is a great reminder on not waiting to get perfect solutions and being open to early rounds of feedback. GoTogether offers carpooling for families in over 42 schools across the USA.

“It’s never too early to think about your advisory board. Get someone that can help you navigate your personal challenges and not just your business challenges.”

– Kristina Francis, Founder of Esteem Logic. Yes! This is a critical reminder, especially to business owners with companies less than five years. While it is important to know how to sell your product, you must not forget how much you are the reflection of the company, the brand, and the vision. Not knowing how to tackle your personal challenges will impact your business negatively. Learn more about how Esteem Logic, is changing workforce pathways by building an integrated technical apprenticeship.

“Your time is money. If you prioritize your time, you’ll make money.”

– Liz Whitehead, Founder of 12PointFive. Just because you are starting off with a zero to low salary for yourself does not mean you should pick up doing everything. Delegate early and prioritize where you do what. 12PointFive empowers female business owners to leverage business to business relationships through certifications.

“Begin with the end in mind. What you deem as success is personal. She who dares wins. If it’s perfect, you spent too much time on it.”

– Danielle Tate, Founder of MrsNowMrs and Author of Elegant Entrepreneur. How many journeys have we started without a clear end in mind? Too many? I love Danielle Tate’s emphasize on how we need to dream and do bigger things. Her reminder to us to not worry about perfection makes us appreciate the bumpy road a bit more.

P.S. Check out our friend Liz’s article to see what other advice mentors shared at 12PointFive! More advice will be coming from our partners next month. If you are curious to join the next one, let us know at info@innovatorsbox.com.