Do Women in Business Need Mentors?

As a female in the business world, I have learned through a lot of trial-and-error what works and what doesn’t work. I have never had the opportunity to have a mentor and have really never had anyone local to me that I could look to for advice and mimicking as a business owner. Although there are numerous successful businesses run by women, I wonder just how many of them have had the experience of having someone in their corner who had “been there…done that” and offered their advice to the budding entrepreneur?

Role models and mentors usually satisfy the need to have someone to be there to help a new business woman avoid making costly mistakes and doing unnecesary steps. They offer sound, practical advice and can even step in and physically do the work if the newbie needs them to. But just how crucial are they to the business itself?

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of our Channel Editors here at b5media, Kelly Phillips-Erb, and in one of my interview questions, she too stated that she has never had the pleasure of having a mentor. (Full Interview Coming Soon!) She just winged it. Is she successful? Why, yes, she has her own law practice! She also maintains a strong online presence through blogs and websites. Can you tell there is the absence of a mentor from her business? No, don’t think so. But, I really don’t know though if there is a way to gauge that. So just how important is mentoring to the aspiring woman in business?

Then there is a business woman who is in my local Toastmaster’s group who has had the benefit of having a mentor with her as she has built her business in Mary Kay Cosmetics. She has grown a phenomenal downline and her mentor has shown her how to get qualified referrals that lead to sales and consultants. She continuously raves at how her mentor has been a help for her in growing her business. Do I think she is successful? I know she is because she has placed her order for her pink car!

If you are in business for yourself or are seriously considering being in business, think about what it is that you want to accomplish and then seek ways to that end. In some industries, it is necessary to have a mentor while in others, mentors can really just get in your way. Also, consider what your reasons are for wanting a mentor. Do you have the confidence you need to meet your goals? Would or can a mentor help you do that?

Having (or not having) a mentor can mean many things to many people. If you do (or don’t) have one, why? or, why not? Can you see any significant benefit in having a mentor as you grow or start a new business?