Mentorship is as old as human society, perhaps even older. Before written communication, the only way information was passed down was from one person directly to another via speech and demonstration—monkey see, monkey do. However, nowadays, communication has evolved to that point that we oftentimes don’t see each other at all, but instead connect from […]
Mentors
Mentors, and Barbara Corcoran’s Surprising Tweet
While on Twitter recently this tweet appeared in my timeline by former real estate magnate, now “Shark” investor on ABC’s Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran: “Mentors are over-rated. I’ve been a mentor to more than 70 businesses I’ve invested in on Shark Tank, and the most successful listen and then do what they please.” I retweeted along with […]
An Experienced Coach Has Seen Your Movie Before
Business coaches come in all sizes and shapes. Entrepreneurs will have a relative willing to devote time, a school friend with business experience, professionals who charge for the service, investors with a reason to promote your success and more. But by far the best coaches are those that have lived through the process you’re going […]
3 Ways to Beat Small Business Owner Isolation
“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do…” Harry Nilsson wrote that lyric and Three Dog Night had a major hit with it in 1969. I think it’s a lyric that speaks strongly to many small business owners. When so much depends on your performance as the owner of your business, it’s easy to […]
Why Every Small Business Owner Should Have a Mentor
There’s one essential item you’re missing that’s key to your continued success. No, it’s not your business plan, mission statement or investors (though the latter may be necessary!). No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, you can benefit from having a professional mentor. If you’ve never had a mentor, you’re missing out on […]
Why Leadership Coaching Works
More and more businesses are utilizing leadership coaches as part of an integral approach to developing key staff. When leaders get bogged down with everyday management tasks such as planning, budgeting, organizing and even motivating staff, their own personal development and vision starts to fall by the wayside. The common mistake in many businesses is […]
How to Pick Your Yoda
“It sounds like you have made yourself an issues cocktail,” said my friend David Zelman. And with that comment, I once again was reminded of the value of coaching. David works with leaders—everyone from royalty and billionaires to entrepreneurs—to help them focus on and achieve their goals. He’s also a nice guy who I serendipitously […]
Half of New Businesses Don’t Survive the First 5 Years: Don’t Be One of Them
At one time or another, most of us have thought about starting a business. The temptation of being your own boss, making your own schedules, and working for your own company can sometimes be irresistible. However, launching a new business can be a risky proposition. According to research by the Small Business Administration, only half […]
Embracing the Unknown: How I Decided to Found My Own Business
A little over a year ago, I was the chief technologist at Dyn, the fastest growing private company in New Hampshire with an internet performance product suite that is changing how companies connect to their end-users. Yet after years of helping the company grow to more than 400 employees on three continents, I decided to […]
Getting the Most Out of Your Mentor–Mentee Relationships
As you already know, the internet is chock-full of advice on how to boost your career success. While most of these are helpful (I’ve written quite a few myself), they seem to largely focus on how to find success by yourself. But what about finding success through others? Isn’t that equally, if not more, important? That’s […]
