entrepreneurs

August 29, 2022

5 Benefits of Working With a Business Coach or Mentor

If you’re an entrepreneur, then it’s more than likely that you either have tried to hire someone to mentor you or are considering doing so. The fact that you’re reading this shows that you recognize the value of having an outside perspective on your business, and that alone is a step in the right direction. However, before making any decisions about working with someone, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into and how to ensure it works out well for both of you. Here are five benefits of working with a business coach or mentor.

1) Get Unstuck

One of the main benefits of working with a business coach or mentor is that they can help you get unstuck. If you feel like you’re in a rut and don’t know how to move forward, a coach can help provide clarity and give you direction. They can also help hold you accountable so that you stay on track and reach your goals.

2) Know Where You’re Going

A mentor can help you develop a clearer vision for your business. This is important because it will help you set goals and make better decisions along the way. For example, if you’re not sure where to focus your time and efforts, a mentor could offer great insight and suggestions.

A study by Harvard Business Review found that managers who had mentors were more likely to report feeling fulfilled in their work than those without mentors. It’s also worth noting that when seeking out coaches or mentors, make sure they specialize in areas that are relevant to your industry. The more they know about your field, the more value they will provide as your advisor.

3) Expand Your Vision

A coach or mentor can help you see the potential in your business that you may be blind to. They can help you identify opportunities for growth and areas where you need to make changes. You will have someone who is not emotionally invested in your success to provide unbiased feedback, which is vital when it comes to evaluating the health of your company. An outside perspective will also show you what things are working well and what things are not worth the time, money, or effort. A coach can also offer expert advice on marketing strategies and how to use social media effectively. The right person can bring out skills that may have been hidden within you all along, which will ultimately increase profits by increasing awareness about your company’s products or services.

4) Avoid Burnout

As a business owner, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day and forget about the big picture. A business coach can help you stay focused on your goals and avoid burnout. You’ll have someone to bounce ideas off of when you’re stuck, hold you accountable for deadlines, and create a healthy work/life balance for you. The two-way conversation will keep things fresh!

5) Learn New Skills

A business coach or mentor can help you learn new skills and knowledge that you can use to grow your business. They can also help you identify areas where you need to improve and provide guidance on how to do so. If there are aspects of your business that aren’t working, such as systems or marketing, then a coach can give you an outside perspective on what is going wrong and how to fix it. You’ll have someone to turn to for questions or ideas when times get tough too, and they will always encourage you to set new goals.

When working with a coach, they will often ask what you want out of the relationship in order to best serve your needs, which means you won’t be afraid to ask for advice about something if it’s not clear at first glance what’s going wrong. It’s common for entrepreneurs to feel lost when faced with challenges they don’t know how to solve themselves.

Are you interested in learning more about working with a coach? We offer one-on-one coaching exclusively for our HireMyMom community and offer a free consultation. You can learn more here!

Written by Lesley Pyle

July 26, 2021

5 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging career paths one can take. There are many considerations that go into starting a business so it’s important to understand both the benefits and risks of this career path. It can be helpful to take into consideration the habits of the most successful entrepreneurs, especially for business owners that are just starting out.

They set “SMART” goals

While any type of goal setting is a great way to help one reach their ambitions faster, setting “SMART” goals, in particular, can be a helpful strategy for entrepreneurs. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. When an entrepreneur makes a SMART goal, they are setting themselves up for success because they have a more clear path of how they will reach their overarching ambitions, whether that is personally or professionally.

For example, an entrepreneur may say they want to increase their revenue for a certain product by the end of the year rather than setting a goal to increase revenue overall. This depicts a SMART goal because they are focused on a specific area of the business, making this ambition more attainable. Furthermore, by making a timely goal, the business owner has a timeframe in mind and can make intentional steps to reach this deadline. SMART goals are proven to be more effective than simply setting a larger goal because it can sometimes be overwhelming to attain certain bigger-picture ambitions. This is why by having shorter-term, more attainable goals, it is easier to stay motivated as each smaller goal is achieved.

They continuously network

Entrepreneurs understand that making connections is fundamental in business. Networking can come in many forms and successful entrepreneurs oftentimes think outside the box when meeting new people. The COVID-19 pandemic not only shifted the way in which business owners had to operate on a day-to-day basis, but changed the way in which connections are made.

For instance, while some entrepreneurs may have been able to participate in trade shows or Chamber of Commerce events prior to the pandemic, in-person meetings came to a halt due to the need for increased safety measures. While traditional networking may have taken place in person, successful entrepreneurs learned to adapt and network digitally. Networking is critical in business as it allows entrepreneurs to stay on top of current trends and meet key players in the industry. Successful networking also can serve as a form of marketing or yield client referrals to create even more business opportunities.

They are always reading

It is commonly known that successful people are constantly reading. This is why many entrepreneurs prioritize and understand the importance of reading on a regular basis. Deciding which books to read can be overwhelming as there are a plethora of options available. Furthermore, reading can take up time and entrepreneurs are usually extremely busy, especially when just starting out. Taking time to read quality books that are industry specific can be a good starting point and can help narrow down choices. Making a habit to read books as an entrepreneur can improve brain function, enhance creativity and reduce stress.

They have a money management system in place

Being an entrepreneur comes with a significant amount of responsibilities, including having a financial plan in place for both professional and personal finances. Sometimes it can be tempting to combine personal and business finances however, some of the most successful ensure they have a money management system in place for tracking purposes. Making an effort to keep business finances separate from personal finances is a habit of successful entrepreneurs because this allows them to have a better understanding of their business expenditures and therefore, they can determine the best ways to spend money from their business.

Furthermore, successful entrepreneurs will oftentimes set up adequate safeguards to protect both their business and personal finances. Having financial peace of mind allows entrepreneurs to focus on growing their businesses and can provide much-needed protection in times of uncertainty. An important way to protect both the entrepreneur’s business and personal finances is to carry a sufficient amount of life insurance coverage. Having a life insurance policy is particularly important for entrepreneurs because they are responsible for many different aspects of their business as well as their personal finances. For example, if an entrepreneur has family members that rely on income from their business, it’s important to ensure that if anything unexpected were to happen, their family has financial safeguards set in place.

They make time for themselves

Successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of hard work but they also value taking time to regroup. It can be hard to take a pause as an entrepreneur, especially considering all of the hats they wear. However, prioritizing self-care and taking a pause can actually prove to create more growth in day-to-day business duties. A few ways some of the most successful entrepreneurs make time for themselves include:

Exercising
Making health a priority
Enjoying a hobby
Taking a vacation
Getting a good night’s rest

The most important person to keeping business operations running smoothly is the actual business owner. This is why successful entrepreneurs make it a habit to prioritize their overall wellness.

Being an entrepreneur comes with a unique set of responsibilities and challenges. However, owning and operating a business can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding experience. Understanding the habits of some of the most successful entrepreneurs can set other entrepreneurs up for long-term stability and a successful business future.

Written by Lesley Pyle

January 3, 2019 0 Comments

2019 Small Business Conference Resource List

Conferences are an excellent way to learn new ways of growing and improving your small business. They also provide a great way to learn new trends, tools and resources. Another great benefit to conferences is that they are a great way to network and meet others in your same or similar industries where you can connect and learn.

And let’s face it, if you work from a home office or a small office, just getting outside those four walls can inspire and motivate you in new ways! So here are some Small Business Conferences we have gathered for you.

Small Business Expo

12/10/19

Houston, TX

Free

5 Benefits of Working With a Business Coach or Mentor

Stay in Touch!

5 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

They set “SMART” goals

They continuously network

They are always reading

They have a money management system in place

They make time for themselves

Stay in Touch!

2019 Small Business Conference Resource List

Know of any other small business conferences not listed?

Please send them to us!

Past Events:

Sign Up and Get Started

Find a Job or Post a Job Today!

Find a Job or
Post a Job Today!