As an entrepreneur, I face a significant challenge.
When you’re working in a large company, some form of mentorship is a given. Even if there is no formal program in place, your manager is responsible for providing you with regular guidance and opportunities for growth.
Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, are on their own. And given that I started by own business when I was 28, I find this scary. I still have significant gaps in my skills due to the absence of senior people who have been in my shoes from whom I could learn.
I’m not the only entrepreneur with this issue, and in response, a unique type of mentorship culture has emerged. In-person conferences and meet-ups organized for entrepreneurs and independent consultants are popping up everywhere, filling our need to trade ideas, share war stories and view our business problems from a fresh perspective. Such events are not only a great place to get support, but they are also ideal for networking with potential partners and customers and for identifying funding sources.
For more on how an entrepreneurial conference can help your current or future business, check out my full post on the AMEX Open Forum.
Alexandra,
You are right about entrepreneurs not having much guidance from senior management, but that doesn't always mean it is a bad thing. Many entrepreneurs learn skills that they wouldn't have learnt under senior managers, because they have had to to survive.
Posted by: Cv Services | October 30, 2012 at 07:58 PM