Find a Mentor Who Believes in You

Last week, I was reminded of the importance of believing in others even more than they believe in themselves. I was catching up with an entrepreneur, and we discussed our different projects and what we’re currently working on. He shared how he was assisting another entrepreneur who was early in her journey. Upon digging deeper, it was clear that the entrepreneur was onto something, but market timing and external forces were making the process more challenging. She had been plugging away for a couple of years with little progress, but in the last 12 months, she had made tremendous strides. My friend’s belief in the entrepreneur, serving as a regular sounding board and confidant, had made a real difference.

I was reminded of my early years as a software entrepreneur when I truly thought building a great product was all that it took. I had no concept or understanding of the role that sales, marketing, and distribution play in the success of a product. Fortunately, I was connected with a much later-stage entrepreneur who took me under his wing and believed in me. We talked about the entrepreneurial journey, the highs and lows, what works and what doesn’t work through the customer acquisition process—what it took to find potential prospects, nurture those relationships, turn them into customers, and finally help them become raving fans. At the time, I was so myopically focused on product development I didn’t see or understand the bigger picture of what it took to succeed. His mentorship and belief in me was life-changing.

In hindsight, I believe one of the best things an entrepreneur can do is to find a mentor, coach, or friend who believes in them even more than they believe in themselves. Of course, entrepreneurs are often confident and visionary, but even with that, there is always a need for help and mentorship. Finding a person who genuinely cares and believes makes all the difference.