Mentoring is like having your very own business reference book or google page.

As a qualified business mentor, and a member of the Association of Business Mentors, I am a volunteer mentor on the Government's Help to Grow Leadership program, helping small business owners become leaders across the nation.

In business, as in many other walks of life, "You don't know what you don't know". Sometimes the fact that you don't know that there is something out there that can help you in whatever situation you are in is the stumbling block. By talking to a mentor, who may have experienced or seen exactly the same situation, you can get advice and guidance on how to handle it.

A mentor will help and guide you, sharing their knowledge and experience in business with you, and giving you a helping hand to reach the next level. In the case that a mentor does not know the answer or have the right information to hand, it is more than likely that they can open their contacts to you, helping to find exactly the right person to talk to in any given situation.

For me, the joy in being a business mentor is feeling that after more years than I care to mention, and more mistakes than I should mention, it is so wonderful to be able to help other business leaders to grow, and maybe avoid some of the pitfalls along the way.