1. Doing Business as a Designer:
Get Yourself a Mentor
(Slide-u-mentary Version - made in google docs)
By Jae Xavier of KnowledgeCity.com
Blog: jaexavier.wordpress.com
Twitter: twitter.com/jaexavier

2. Introduction
Want to develop your design business faster?
Looking for new opportunity in other markets?
Is there too much competition in your area of design
expertise?
Do you lack direction when it comes to starting your design
business?
Do you feel lost or overwhelmed in starting your design
business?
Do you want strong leadership that will propel your design
business beyond your expectations?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, keep reading.

3. Introduction (con't)
Business veterans from every industry want to help people
like you. Believe me, they really do.
I have met veteran design business owners who have become
mentors in schools and at the Small Business Administration
(SBA) and/or SCORE; both U.S. based organizations dedicated
to helping startups or small companies of all sorts.
This is just one way of meeting mentors. You can also meet
mentors by approaching them directly or at networking
events.

4. Introduction (con't)
Every one of these mentors wants to help you succeed. They
are motivated by giving back to the community and witnessing
success from mentees who give it their best effort to succeed.
They have life long ambitions and work hard at it; just as you
do.
Remember, they where once like you; struggling for
success.

5. Expectations
Mentors will tell you what you need to do, especially for
startup companies. They want to coach you; but you must also
be coachable.

6. Expectations (con't)
Specifically:
You must listen and ask questions
If you don’t know an answer to a question, tell them “I
don’t know.”
Be humble; accept that you don’t know everything and you
are willing to learn. Most of these mentors have more than
20 years of business experience. You are going to get
“schooled”, so don’t fight them.

7. Expectations (con't)
Do your homework. They will assign you research projects
so you can understand your market better than your
competitors. After accomplishing this, you will see
opportunity that others cannot. You will also understand
intimately your business, the market you serve, and your
competitors.
Don’t waste their time. They are running a business while
helping you succeed. Most have families they come home
to. This is a serious opportunity so don’t waste it.
Be honest; tell them about your situation, your schedule,
and anything else detrimental to your business and
personal life. This way, they know what to expect.

8. Conclusion
The effect mentors have on your business can be very
astounding.
One of the biggest benefits is saving time; something that
cannot be bought in large quantities.

9. Want to know more?
Resources
SBA and SCORE
Small Business Management Online Training
Professional Sales – Online Training
Marketing Concept – Online Training
Articles
Doing Business as a Designer: Getting Started
Doing Business as a Designer: Defining Your Competitive
Advantage
Doing Business as a Designer: The Price Wars
Doing Business as a Designer: The Article Collection at Scribd