3 Shifts You Need to make Before Meeting with a Business Mentor

Having a business mentor is like having a cheerleader in your pocket. A business mentor shares insights from his or her own career that may benefit you and they also provide support and motivation on your journey to help you clarify, commit to and achieve your goals.

I recently had an opportunity to meet with not just one but several business mentors in Richard Branson’s living room. Now, I know it sounds too good to be true, but I promise you it is. And yes, the insights I gained were just as mind-blowing as the experience itself.

Today, I’m sharing my key takeaways from my incredible mentoring experience while at Richard Branson’s home. These 3 key mindset shifts will help you prepare for your next business mentor or coaching opportunity.  

But first, I imagine you might be wondering how I ever got invited to the Richard Branson’s home in the first place.

At Home with Sir Richard

Necker Island, which is home to Sir Richard Branson, happens to be one of the islands in the British Virgin Islands where I live. If you’ve ever heard of Necker Island, you know it’s the stuff that dreams are made of. Playground to the rich and famous and home to Sir. Richard himself, this idyllic island paradise is home to flamingos, giant tortoises, and lemurs. It’s no wonder, he calls it his ‘favourite hideaway’.

But as exclusive as it is, Sir Richard doesn’t keep Necker Island to himself. If you’re lucky, you can book one of the 15 rooms for USD $5000/night or rent the entire island for a mere $77,500. This private island paradise has become known as one of the world’s most exclusive private retreats. It’s an ideal location for events such as the one I was attending: Business Chicks’ Leadership Gathering.

Women Leaders in Paradise

Business Chicks is Australia’s largest and most influential community for women, with a growing membership in the US as well. They aim to reimagine the future of women and help all women play a bigger game.

Thanks to the kind generosity of Business Chicks’ founder Emma Isaacs and Unite BVI Foundation, the not-for-profit arm of Virgin Unite, a handful of local female entrepreneurs were invited to a mentoring session during the Business Chicks’ 2019 Leadership Gathering. This gave us a chance to be mentored by international entrepreneurs and business leaders on a wide range of topics.

Now, you can only get to Necker Island by boat and this just happened to be a perfect day for sailing. The sea was like glass and the skies a deep blue, making the journey even more magical.

While this wasn’t my first time to Necker Island, I’m always enthralled by the view of the island and how the intimate buildings seem to commune with nature. And that’s just on arrival. While on the island the stunning landscape, picturesque views and careful attention to detail are clues that you’re indeed in paradise.

The sessions were held in the Great House, Sir Richard’s expansive Living Room with a view over the water and surrounding islands. Women from all cross sections of business and leadership settled in for the presentations with cool drinks in hand.

Laying it all on the table

When it was time for my presentation I shared about my journey to the top of my field, my rising discontentment as a working professional and mom, retirement from public service at the age of 42 and my passion to help women create a life and work they love, without sacrificing the important things. This set the stage for the small group mentoring session where we did a deep dive into my business successes, missteps and aspirations.

My Business Chicks business mentors included a reality TV film star, business owners, podcasters, authors, a business coach, a marketing professional – all leaders in their own right. They listened attentively to me, sought clarification and shared insights from their own experiences where appropriate.

Their advice was spot-on, well thought out and oh, so appreciated. And all of this came about because of the mindset shift I made to take advantage of this rare moment with these incredible business mentors.

So, when it comes to having the right mindset in a mentoring opportunity, what should you know?

3 Mindset Keys to Maximize Mentorship & Coaching

Here are my 3 best tips to help you prepare for your next business mentoring or coaching session.

1. Stop the shrinking thinking

Are you allowing fear, doubt or past failures to dictate your future?

Too many times we self-sabotage and miss out on opportunities or fail to see them when they come. We tell ourselves we won’t find a business mentor who’s a good fit. Or that we don’t deserve the opportunity. Or mentoring simply isn’t for us.

In my case, I was tempted to forego the opportunity because of past experiences. But I also knew that there are some specific business goals I want to reach and I can’t get there alone. So, I pushed past my reservations and chose to make the most of the opportunity, and I was glad I did.

Push past your fears and reservations to maximize the benefits of a mentor relationship. Share on X

Many of us also allow our expectations to limit us. You probably noticed that my mentoring time with the Business Chicks isn’t what your typical business mentor opportunity looks like, yet it packed a powerful punch. Sometimes a golden opportunity presents itself in ways we don’t expect, so keep an open mind.

Ask yourself: Am I shrinking back from opportunities?

Take action: Make the decision to let go of your limiting beliefs and choose to show up.

2. Show up in a powerful way

Once you decide to meet with a business mentor, how you show up is key. If you enter into a mentoring opportunity with reservations and doubts, these will limit what you get out of it. Showing up out of obligation doesn’t really serve anyone.

Prepare for the session so that you are clear about the type of support you need and bring your best to the table.

Before my session with the Business Chicks, I took the time to write down my business challenges and listed three areas I felt I needed support in. Because I was clear, we were able to maximize the time so that I got the most out of it.   

Ask yourself: Am I showing up as my best self?

Take action: Once you’re in the room, own it. Believe that you have the right to be there.

Bonus: Shine don’t shrink with this Marianne Williamson printable quote designed by my friend, Petra at Arra Design Studio. This is a perfect way to set your mind right. Get it free here.

3. Allow yourself to be poured into

You made the decision to show up and put your best self forward, now what? This is when you allow yourself to be poured into. Be receptive to the advice you’re given and when not clear ask clarifying questions.

If you’ve been running your business or leading others for a while, being on the receiving end may not feel comfortable, but this is where the true benefit is. Someone looking in from the outside might be able to see things you’ve been missing, and oftentimes you walk away with fresh insights and a whole new way of approaching old problems.

Fresh eyes often lead to a fresh perspective. #businessmentor Share on X

Whether in a coaching setting, when meeting with a business mentor or in a mastermind community, giving yourself the opportunity to receive input from others often reaps many rewards, so give it a try.

Ask yourself: Am I allowing myself to be poured into?

Take action: Commit to putting yourself in situations where you can receive input, whether in a coaching or mentoring setting.

How about you?

Are you ready to have a transformative experience with your business mentor or coach? Start by getting rid of the shrinking thinking, show up in a powerful way, allow yourself to be poured into, and watch the magic happen.

I’d love to know which of these tips you found most helpful. And if you have other tips to add, let’s continue the conversation in the comments below.