When Should You Hire A Mentor (And What Can You Expect)?

I used to think business mentors were a luxury. Something for other people. What could a mentor tell me that I couldn't learn from a book or the internet? There are hundreds of free resources on how to run a business.

So I didn't bother getting one.

Not when I started out.

Not when I got stuck in the feast and famine cycle.

Not even when I felt like everyone apart from me was smashing it.

I didn't want to admit I needed help.

And then I broke.

My business was making me miserable and I had no idea how to get out of the rut. So I swallowed my pride, spoke to a mentor, and booked a meeting. I didn't expect much from that first session, but I also had nothing to lose.

Oh my. I wish I'd gotten help sooner. I walked out of that meeting feeling more positive and excited about my business than I had in a long time.

A mentor reduces the mental load

It's hard to appreciate the benefits of working with a mentor until you've experienced it for yourself.

You get all the stuff people rave about - learning from someone who has been there, done that, getting a fresh perspective and guidance, and having someone to hold you accountable. But there's more to it than that.

Working with a mentor removes some of the mental pressures of working for yourself.

When you're employed, there is always someone there to answer a question, double-check something, provide moral support, share your idea or problem with, offload to, or celebrate with.

You have colleagues, or peers, or managers, or subordinates - you're never in it alone. Even if you work remotely, there's someone you can call.

But when you work for yourself, you don't have that. Everything is on you. Every decision. Every success. Every failure. And it's exhausting.

You don't realise when you're in it. You just get used to it. But once you start working with a mentor, you suddenly realise how much energy it has been taking up.

A (good) mentor takes some of that pressure off. You have someone there. Someone you can bounce ideas off, share a challenge with, celebrate successes with, and offload your problems to.

Now, obviously, I don't know if this is true of all mentors, but it's true of the ones I have worked with, and it's true of me.

If you want to leave me a voice message screaming and ranting about a shitty client, there's no judgement.

If you've had a crap day and need a lift, I'll provide it.

If you're on a high and want someone to share your win with (no matter how small it might seem), I'm there.

And when you need a kick up the arse, a bit of direction, or an honest opinion about your next big idea, that's what I'm there for.

And, of course, you get all the other stuff too - advice, guidance, expertise and support - so you can meet your business objectives.

When should you hire a mentor?

There is no wrong time to hire a mentor, but don't wait until you hit rock bottom. A mentor can't guarantee results, so if they are your last hope and you're putting all your eggs in one basket, you're taking a risk.

The best time to get a mentor is any time before it gets to absolute breaking point.

When you're starting out

You can avoid a lot of mistakes and bad decisions if you start working with a mentor early. They can help you put a plan in place to get where you want to be quickly (and most importantly, to get clients or customers).

Find a mentor who has experience working with businesses similar to yours or has built the kind of business you would like.

When business isn't going well

If you're noticing a decline in sales, your marketing doesn't seem to be working, or you're struggling to deliver the service you'd like, a mentor could help.

Businesses have to constantly adapt and evolve, and you might just need a fresh perspective or some outside insight to help you turn things around and get back on track.

When business is going well

During the pandemic, lots of freelancers were riding high. Business was booming. Problem is, they didn't invest in themselves or their business. They just happily rode the wave without considering that things might change. And then things changed and many of those same freelancers are struggling.

Investing in yourself while you can afford it will help you future-proof your business (as much as is possible).

When you need a kick up the arse

It's very easy to get complacent and let things tick along. Or know what you need to do, but keep putting it off. Or to have big plans and ideas, but never actually act on them.

A mentor can give you the accountability and motivation you need to get to that next stage, level up, or launch that new project.

When your business isn't where you want it to be, but you don't know what the problems are (or how to fix them)

This was me. I was stuck in a rut. I had clients, but not all of them were good clients. I had work, but not all of it was work I enjoyed. I was making money, but not as much as I should have been. And I was working long hours.

My business was making me miserable. I'd lost my motivation. And I didn't know how to fix things.

I worked with two mentors. The first helped me get out of the rut and back on track. The second helped me build the business I wanted.

If your business feels a bit "meh" and you don't know how to shake that feeling, it might be time to get a mentor.

How to choose a mentor

My first mentor came about almost by accident. We had mutual clients, so we'd met a few times. I mentioned I'd been thinking about getting a mentor, and he said he needed some content writing, so we agreed to an exchange of services.

He helped me get back on track, but I didn't feel like he was the right person to get me where I wanted to be. He was used to working with bigger businesses - businesses with teams and big growth plans. I didn't want to grow my business.

My second mentor was someone I came across on LinkedIn, and he had the sort of business I wanted. I signed up for his emails, and I liked his approach, so I got in touch. He certainly wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but he was the right fit for me. And he has helped me build a business that makes me happy.

These mentors may or may not be right for you. I may or may not be right for you. But there are plenty of mentors to choose from, so you don't have to rush your decision.

If you come across a mentor you think might be able to help you, do a bit of research. Check out their social media profiles, website and content. If they have an email, subscribe to it. If they have written a book, buy it. You should be able to get a feel for their approach, and if you like what they have to say, get in touch with them or book a one-to-one.

You don't have to like your mentor, but you do have to trust them. You have to feel confident that they can get you where you want to be, and you need to feel comfortable being completely honest with them.

And it's not like you are stuck with them forever. Lots of people get different mentors at different stages because each mentor offers something different or can help with a different aspect of their business.

Maybe your next mentor can help you get from A to Z, or maybe they'll just take you from A to B. As long as they can help you move in the right direction, that's the important thing.

What to expect from me as your mentor

Every mentor has their own style, experience and way of working, so I can't speak for all mentors. What I can do is let you know what to expect from me as a mentor.

Identify the gaps

The first thing we need to do is figure out how to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Where are the gaps, and how can we fix them?

It might be that your marketing messages are all over the place. Or perhaps your sales skills are lacking. Maybe the problem is with your pricing, your positioning or your confidence.

Whatever it is, we'll get to the bottom of it so we can put a plan in place to move forward.

Make the necessary changes

I'll give you advice, I'll share my experience, I'll even show you how to do stuff and work on things with you. I can give you support, encouragement, and a gentle nudge (or huge shove) in the right direction, but ultimately, it's you who needs to do the work.

If you aren't prepared to make changes, then nothing will change.

Build a business that works for you

My goal is to help you build a business that makes you happy. How we do that will depend on where you are now and where you want to be.

What I can tell you is that I will always be completely honest, and I won't recommend anything unless I genuinely believe it will help you.

How to work with me 1-2-1

If you want to test the waters or aren't sure whether you need ongoing mentoring, I recommend booking one of my 90-minute starter sessions for £150.

We'll look at where the gaps are in your business and figure out what you need to do to fix them.

After the call, you might feel as though you have enough to get moving forward again (or you might decide you don't like me). No problem. There's absolutely no pressure to sign up for ongoing mentoring after the initial call.

If you do feel like we're a good fit and would like my support, there are two options.

Ongoing mentoring

Mentoring Lite (aka Fairy Godmother) is a pay-monthly rolling programme with fortnightly one-to-one calls and unlimited WhatsApp or email support. 

Ideal if you want to move your business to the next level, can commit between two and four hours per week to business development, and want to spread the cost of mentoring.

What you get:

• Two 60-minute video calls per month
• Bespoke advice and support to help you achieve your goals
• WhatsApp/email/text support between calls
• Free access to my online courses
• Access to my monthly events for as long as you're in the programme

12-Week Programme

My intensive 12-week programme is designed to help you fix the gaps in your sales and marketing processes. This programme is ideal if you are ready to make changes quickly and can commit a minimum of four hours per week to business development. 

What you get:

• Weekly 90-minute video calls tailored to your business goals
• Bespoke advice and support to help you achieve your goals
• Unlimited WhatsApp/email/text support between calls
• Website copy review/planning
• Unlimited copy reviews and edits (during the 12 weeks)
• Lifetime access to my online courses and a copy of my book
• One year's membership to my group programme

I require payment upfront (£3000), but calls can be spread over 16 weeks to accommodate holidays and emergencies.

Because places on this programme are limited to three per month and we're committing to at least three months working together, we need to make sure we're a good fit.

For that reason, you'll need to book a starter session before we move forward. If we decide the programme is right for you, I'll deduct the fee for the starter session from the fee for the programme.