Business Mentors Blog
Our business is all about people. We have two groups that influence our delivery, the business mentors, and small business owners looking to grow their business. Mentors provide the time and knowledge free of charge, and that’s what makes them so valuable. They have no emotional or financial investment in the business that Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) introduces them to, allowing mentors to give impartial advice. Clients apply to the mentoring service for a range of reasons. Usually, ...
Whether you're at the beginning of your business journey, or you're already engaged in the daily grind of running your company, you want your efforts to produce results. And by getting some personalised guidance, you can make sure it happens.
In business, there is no blueprint. For experienced and new business owners alike, there is room for personal and professional growth. Regardless of the phase you find yourself in, it’s wise to consider mentoring. A mentor can be a wise friend, ready to lend an ear and offer a fresh perspective.
With a mentor, you can shorten the distance between your current state and the success you hope for. In part two of this blog we discuss the short and long-term benefits of the programmes and how a mentor will change the way you do business.
If you're hoping to start a business or already running one, you’re sure to encounter a number of common obstacles.
Mark registered with Business Mentors NZ, when he realised that he didn’t have the confidence or business savvy to move his business forward. He was assigned to mentor Ross Kennedy, who supported him and gave him newfound confidence. Ross’ expertise, knowledge, advice and guidance ensured the couple understood the foundations of a small business so they could grow and add people to it.
When Theo Gibson discovered there was a gap in New Zealand’s Audiobook market, he developed a website selling Audiobooks by New Zealand authors. As this was his first time taking on a project of this level, he contacted BMNZ to give him guidance and support on areas outside his expertise. He was paired with Ailsa Barr, who he describes their relationship as being “invaluable”.
AnneMarie is a photographic artist, based in Otago. She specialises in historic photographic processes. Her goal was to become self-employed and make a living from her art, but, while she exhibited and sold her works through a gallery in old Cromwell, she wasn’t sure how to further progress her business. Annemarie contacted BMNZ who matched her with mentor Brian Weaver, who she has now had a partnership with for nearly four years.
After spotting a gap in the sustainability education market, Lesley used her passion for horticulture, tutoring and the environment to create her own business, Eco-Educate. With guidance from her mentor, Linda Norris, Lesley has used her skills to work with pre-schools and schools, helping to increase the level of learning around sustainability. Since joining BMNZ, her business has not just grown – “it has flown”.
Jo came to Business Mentors looking to increase her sales. With the help of her mentor, Bryan Winters, Jo changed her workshops from educational classes into “glass-making experiences”. This doubled her income in the past year. Half of Jo’s business is now dedicated to her glassmaking workshop experiences, while the other half is spent making her own creations for sale throughout New Zealand.
