Make Things Happen With a Mentor

By Larry Downey, Community Manager @ Lowcountry Local First

larry@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

I am a huge proponent of mentorship. I had a mentor from sixth grade through high school who helped me navigate the treacherous waters of being a teenager. This experience actually led me to become a mentor for a young man in need of a male role model. Professional athletes have a coach or mentor who offers guidance and  suggestions for improvement. Musicians and  artist look up to other artist and  emulate style and  technique. It makes sense that a person looking to improve any aspect of his or her life would seek out someone who has that particular aspect mastered and  ask for guidance.

While human beings are an amazing species and  are capable of achieving almost anything we put our minds to, trial and  error is a ridiculously long and  tedious process. When faced with a new or challenging situation, why would we not reach out and  ask for guidance, especially if that guidance is being offered on the “pay it forward” basis. In essence, what I’m saying is that there are people out there that know more about life than we do (I know, it’s tough to swallow) and  are willing to share the knowledge they have acquired so that we don’t have to bang our heads against the wall only to find that a hammer works much better.

The reason for my rant is simple; I’m excited about the fact that Local Workshas partnered with SCORE to offer business mentoring. Part of my role is to create an environment that is conducive to the success of the businesses that call Local Works home and  having a mentor onsite is another great tool to add to their toolbox. What is even more exciting is the fact that this mentor will be available to help all entrepreneurs. That means Local Workers, Lowcountry Local First members, and  anybody else who is interested in following their dream of being a small business owner can set up an appointment to create or tweak a plan of action to achieve that dream. Whether you are just starting with an idea and  need to learn how to make it a reality or, you’ve been in business for years and  need to talk about a new marketing approach, Local Works can be your resource to do that.

Need a half hour with a professional to see if your business plan is solid or want some advice on growth strategy? Local Works in partnership with SCORE, will be offering one-on-one mentoring sessions every first Wednesday of the month from 9am to 1pm. Open to all.

Please reserve a space with Larry Downey, Larry@LowcountryLocalFirst.org or