Danny Mazevski and Annalisa Holmes have participated in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s MentorNet Program. For more information on mentoring, please click here.
The Mentor: Danny Mazevski
Company: Amco Public Accountants Why did you become a mentor? A number of reasons really, the main ones are:
- Share my extensive experience to date in the financial industry with those embarking on building their small to medium-sized businesses particularly where the financial discipline needs strengthening and in turn lead to sustainable competitive advantage and of course above industry return on investment.
- Suggestions made by a number of our clients (to consider mentoring) following successful coaching of them in their businesses.
- In my career I have relied on mentors myself in corporate life and found the experience invaluable.
What were you hoping to get from the experience? My goals were to:
- Learn more about the challenges facing small business owners in their pursuit of profit.
- Expand the profile of our practice beyond the current offering – Taxation, Accounting, Financial Planning and Management Consulting.
- Build networks beyond our client base and the Sydney region.
- Develop business relationship with ABN staff and assist members post completion of course as they re-engineer their small to medium size businesses.
What is the biggest challenge of being a mentor? Time constraints, so much to achieve in so little time. Time constraints do not always allow sufficient focus on specific areas identified by mentorees as critical to their business. We have, however, attempted to re-visit these priorities and ensure that they are addressed. What is the most powerful thing you’ve learned? Holding back advice and assistance until it is asked for. Being patient with progress made and to explore other non-business factors coming into play as far as mentorees are concerned. What would you say to anyone considering being a Mentor in the Mentornet program? I suppose one that comes to mind is to be clear on what you hope to achieve from the program and then seek assurances from the coordinators and your Mentor that the content/scope is geared up to provide the same objectives.
The Mentoree: Annalisa Holmes
Company: The Transcription People Why did you become a mentoree? There are a few reasons why I wanted to join the MentorNet program. My business was up and running and was growing rapidly and I felt personally that I did not have the full compliment of skills across all aspects of the business. The MentorNet program looked like the ideal solution for me as it covers all aspects of business. Also, I wanted to find out exactly how much I knew about business and whether I was just out of my depth or I was on the right track. I have dabbled in the past with various business coaches and business mentors none of which had really understood the nature of my business. The calibre of people and members I have met through the ABN confirmed to me that this would be a positive and worthwhile program to join. What were you hoping to get from the experience? Everybody in business has his or her strengths and weaknesses. What I was hoping to take away from the program was to build on my weaknesses and enhance my strengths. For example, accounting and financial management is one of my biggest weaknesses, simply having a financial guru, as my Mentor in the program has been a huge help. We discovered ways to make money that were in front of us, but we couldn’t see them. What is the biggest challenge of being a mentoree? Time and commitment has been the biggest challenge for me. Many a time it would have been easy to have sat back and relaxed after a full working day however as my aim was to complete the program and get the most I could from it, I found that was my motivation. What is the most powerful thing you’ve learned? We all face the same challenges and issues regardless of the size of the business, number of employees, industry type etc. What would you say to anyone considering being a Mentoree in the Mentornet program? My advice to prospective mentorees is to “just do it”? do not hesitate. Join the program, learn and ask as much as you can particularly from your Mentor and be prepared to put in the effort to maximise the end result. I will come away with a new found inspiration to work on and build my business effectively. If nothing else, you?ll meet some great people. What is the best thing that has come from this experience? Working with my mentor has created more revenue for our business. Our income increased by 5% in the first month after I implemented his advice. By taking a step back and looking at our services, he identified the potential to grow our web hosting business as we have a unique approach to web hosting. Also by having an external party like my mentor review our pricing structure for our transcription, he has come up with some suggestions on how we can factor in the usual non-chargeable costs. With his vast financial knowledge, we have greatly benefited from his advice and guidance.
