Meet Chantel Gilbert

Chantel Was at a Turning Point in Her Business…

When Chantel Gilbert needed help with her business, she had an idea about what resource was going to benefit her the most. The problem was, she didn’t know where or how to get access to what she needed. She was quite unsure of how to approach the situation.

She knew that having a mentor had helped many others succeed in business, and she knew a mentor could help her achieve real results, but her fear of seeking a mentor held her back.

She just didn’t feel right about using up someone’s time, and she didn’t know how to make the most of the mentoring experience.

Both of those fears are pretty common when it comes to mentoring. Many business owners feel stuck, but don’t know how to go about finding a mentor. Or they fear it will be awkward – some are concerned that they don’t know enough, and could look silly.

Others are scared that mentoring won’t be worth the investment, or they won’t find someone who understands their business needs.

But Chantel couldn’t get the prospect of finding a mentor out of her head. Instead of continuing to feel stuck, she reached out through the HerBusiness mentoring program.

That decision has given her business more rewards than she could have imagined.

Her mentor, PJ, was able to help her find the clarity she needed as a business owner. He also was able to offer a new perspective. Together, they put her plans into action.

Not only did his advice get her business past its first tipping point, it kept the business growing.

Increased Revenue, More Clients, and a Bigger Team

Chantel’s business, BlueGum Electrical Solutions, has now seen a 30% revenue increase, doubled its clients, and is getting ready to add more team members.

But these wins came with their challenges, as most do.

Whether your business challenges are small or large, a mentor can help you through them, which is exactly what Chantel found most helpful with having her own mentor.

“I think the best thing about this relationship is just having someone to work through the challenges with,” said Chantel. “Rather than give me the answers, my mentor poses the right questions and helps me work out a solution. Then I am able to truly learn for myself.”

PJ said the most important thing he taught Chantel was to plan. “She just needed a way to plan and mature her business. It was important for her to separate the weeds from the grass and have a solid plan for the future, not just for right now.”

What PJ has taught her has shaped the way that Chantel sees herself as a business owner. “I now know the right questions to ask myself and how to make the appropriate assessment of an idea.”

Learning how to ask the right questions has given her confidence as a business leader.

“This experience has shaped my confidence. I just know now the right questions to ask myself and that has built my confidence.”

She built her confidence by discussing her various options with PJ, and testing these out until they developed a plan. Now she says she has a plan that is 100%.

But she didn’t always stick to the plan or the budget.

One month she disregarded PJ’s advice on budgeting, and it left her in a mess. But PJ was still there, and was able to help her recover and learn from the mistakes. Through that experience she learned how to budget correctly.

“He showed me how those decisions affect the future, and that there is no reason to go over budget. If it’s not in the budget then it’s not okay, and we need to do some readjusting. Really, it is just great to have someone who keeps you accountable to your goals and plans.”

PJ and Chantel agree that the most powerful lesson for Chantel was to see the forest, not the trees. “Instead of seeing just this one problem, or looking ahead one week or month, to look ahead one year or several years. Try to find a solution that is good long term.”

Mentoring has had one of the greatest impacts on her business, and she encourages others to find the support for themselves.

She says you don’t need to reinvent the wheel or try to figure out everything on your own.

You can fast track your success by receiving input from someone else who has already been there, and to learn from them.

Find out more about Chantel and BlueGum Electrical Solutions here.

Learn all about the HerBusiness Mentoring program here.

This article was co-authored by Mary Klepzig. She is currently completing a journalism internship at HerBusiness. She is pursuing a degree in Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee in the United States.