Business Mentor in Telford: What to Look For (and What to Avoid)
- Fran Ash
- May 6
- 3 min read
At some point in business, most people reach a stage where they start to feel like they might need a bit more support.
Not because something’s gone wrong, and not because they’re not capable, but because trying to hold everything on your own can start to feel heavier than it needs to. There’s only so long you can keep all the ideas, decisions and pressure in your own head before something begins to feel a little bit stuck.
And when you get to that point, the next question is usually, “Ok… but who do I actually turn to?”
Because once you start looking, there are a lot of options out there. Business mentors, coaches, consultants, advisors… and on the surface, they can all sound quite similar. It can feel like you’re supposed to just pick one and hope for the best, which doesn’t exactly make the decision any easier.
It’s Not About Finding “The Best”
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is people thinking they need to find the best mentor. The most experienced, the most qualified, the one who looks the most successful from the outside.
But in reality, that’s not what makes something work.
What matters far more is finding someone who feels like the right fit for you. Someone who understands where you are in your business, who communicates in a way that makes sense to you, and who can challenge you when you need it, but also support you through the wobbles.
Because mentoring isn’t just about strategy. It’s about the conversations you’re having along the way, and how those conversations make you feel afterwards.
What It Should Feel Like
When you’re speaking to the right person, things should start to feel clearer, not more complicated. You shouldn’t leave a conversation with even more spinning around in your head. Instead, you should feel like you’ve got a bit of direction again, even if everything isn’t fully figured out yet.
It’s also important that you feel comfortable being honest. Not just the polished version of what’s going well, but the bits you’re unsure about, the things you’ve been putting off, or the thoughts that keep circling around when you’re trying to switch off.
If you can’t be open about what’s really going on, you’ll only ever scratch the surface of what’s possible.
A Few Things to Be Mindful Of
At the same time, it’s worth paying attention to what doesn’t feel right.
If something feels too rigid, like you’re being pushed into a way of doing things that doesn’t quite sit with you, that’s usually a sign to pause. The same goes for anything that promises quick fixes or overnight success. Most business owners know deep down that it doesn’t work like that, even if it sounds tempting in the moment.
The right kind of support should feel like it’s working with you, not trying to change you into something you’re not.
The Value of Local Support
If you’re based in or around Telford or Shropshire, there’s also something to be said for working with someone who understands the local business landscape.
The types of businesses around here, the way relationships are built, the opportunities that come from being part of the community… all of that plays a bigger role than people sometimes realise. It can make conversations feel more relevant and a lot easier to put into practice in a way that actually works for you.
You Don’t Have to Rush the Decision
This isn’t something you need to figure out overnight.
You don’t have to commit to something long-term straight away, and you definitely don’t need to have everything perfectly mapped out before you speak to someone. Sometimes it simply starts with a conversation, just to see how it feels and whether it’s the right fit for you.
That alone can often give you more clarity than trying to figure it all out in your own head.
If You’re Starting to Explore Your Options
If you’ve been reading along over the past few weeks and starting to feel like mentoring might be something worth exploring, this is a good place to pause and think about what you actually need right now.
Not what everyone else is doing, and not what you feel like you should be doing, but what would genuinely help you move forward.
If you’d like to have that conversation, you can find out more about working with me here: Work With Me.
And if you’re not quite there yet, you’re always welcome to start by coming along to one of my networking events. Sometimes just being in the room with other business owners and having those honest conversations is exactly what you need to take that first step.
