The Power of Mentorship

A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.
– Elbert Hubbard

Pepper was born 13 years ago and made easier because of one person who had great faith in me. Can’t remember the conversation exactly, but what I do remember is Ian Collier’s matter of fact confidence that opening my own agency was a good idea.

I’ve always had the benefit of mentors. One of them used to take me to lunch every Wednesday at Mario’s, Valpark.  I worked at National Brewing Company (Stag) at the time.  Chris Vuyk introduced me to the Positioning Matrix where you can plot all the brands in a category, so you know where yours can be best placed. And boy did we have a lot of fun with Stag moving it from 6% share and setting the foundation for its impressive position today.

So, here’s 13 reasons why you should have a mentor:

  • You can make mistakes (sometimes many) and still know they’ll be there for you
  • It’s ok to cry in front of them. And crying is good for the soul
  • They see light in your dark clouds
  • They are great at offering alternative solutions
  • Sometimes they show up with money
  • They can help you open doors
  • You gain a friend
  • Mentors make excellent coaches (like Chris)
  • They are an excellent source of Vitamin M – Motivation
  • They help you avoid mis-steps
  • They share their life lessons to help you shape yours
  • Mentors stick by you through thick and thin
  • Mentors prop you up

And you know what?  After all of that, sometimes you switch roles and become the mentor’s mentor.

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton

Thanks to my mentors for making the rough roads smoother, over the past 13 years of running Pepper.