Mentoring denotes a relationship between a more experienced person—the mentor—and a less experienced person—the protégé. The mentor's role is to guide, instruct, encourage, and correct the protégé.  The protégé should be willing to listen to instruction and constructive criticism, and should also feel as though the mentor is concerned with his/her welfare.  Mentor/protégé relationships are less structured and more personal than traditional teacher/student situations. You can design the type of structure you need.

On the other hand, a sponsorship is definitely an action relationship. The person that is sponsoring you is going to actively open doors for you.  For example, when an opportunity arises for which your business is suitable, the sponsor informs others about you and they “sell” your abilities when you are not in the room.

One way to find a sponsor is to identify a person within your industry or network that is respected and influential. Then, find key opportunities to introduce yourself, get to know the potential sponsor informally and share strategic information about your accomplishments, education and goals for your business. A sponsorship will naturally occur provided you have built a nice relationship of respect, professionalism and you have demonstrated you can perform as a business owner.

Finding a mentor can provide much value and may be an excellent springboard for building relationships, while having a sponsor can provide great business opportunities. For business owners seeking to get ahead, sponsorship, in addition to mentoring, is decidedly necessary.

This week's blog was written by Kymberly Sheckleford. Kymberly is an Analyst with C2G Resourcing, a subsidiary of Consultants 2 Go, LLC.

Here are some steps for finding and working with a mentor for your small business venture:

1. Small Business Mentoring Organizations

There’s a great deal of free resources and services to support small business owners, both online and locally:

• SCORE is a nonprofit association of retired executives dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
• Women Presidents’ Organization is a non-profit membership organization for women presidents of multimillion-dollar companies. The members of the WPO take part in professionally-facilitated peer advisory groups in order to bring the 'genius out of the group' and accelerate the growth of their businesses.
• Inc Business Council is an exclusive network of top entrepreneurs in regional councils coast-to-coast.  The council offers its members a productive environment to find the answers they are looking for to help them reach their next level of success.

2. Trade Associations

Trade Associations exist for nearly every industry and can be valuable sources of information for business owners and those doing industry research. Some trade associations offer continuing professional training and certifications, and many operate mentor/protégé programs that provide guidance to help you build your business. These mentoring programs are often conducted through a combination of formal one-on-one mentoring sessions and group networking and discussion opportunities with fellow protégés.

• Biz Trade Shows boasts the largest directory of trade fairs and business events, delivering an exhaustive coverage of exhibitions, trade shows and expositions, conferences and seminars for various industries worldwide.
• The New York Public Library provides small business research tips on trade associations and how to find them according to each industry using their expansive database.

3. Utilize your Networks

Who do you know? Is there a previous boss who was very inspiring to you or a friend who is a business owner? Ask that person to be your mentor or share his or her successes and struggles. You have nothing to lose. Just be prepared to share with them why you chose them in particular, your goals and what you are looking for from them. One of the best ways to find a mentor who knows your industry, your community and comes with a great referral is to use your network.

• Accountability Group – you can form your own team of peers to mentor each other.  You decide how often you want to meet and hold each other accountable for goals.

If you decide to work with a mentoring organization, ensure there is a formal mentor/protégé structure in place. If you are working with an individual you will need to work together to establish a mutually beneficial structured relationship. And last but not least, be thankful and communicative about the value working with a mentor brings. This is about being in a mutually beneficial relationship, after all.

This week's blog was written by Kymberly Sheckleford. Kymberly is an Analyst with C2G Resourcing, a subsidiary of Consultants 2 Go, LLC.

Staying fit for an individual always on the move, especially as a small business owner can be a struggle. In between traveling, juggling business meetings, maintaining family time and trying to fit in adequate rest, it can prove to be challenging, leaving little time to exercise.  All it takes is a bit of inspiration and a positive attitude. Whether the inspiration is to look even better in that new dress you just purchased or your goal is a lifestyle change, it’s a great way to start.  Next, the hardest step is creating a workout regimen that you can actually stick with. 

As a small business owner, you probably spend at least 30-60 minutes a day using social media. Fortunately, many fitness brands have been using social media to influence and encourage people towards a healthy lifestyle. Weight Watchers totally re-invented their brand when they added the newly sleek Jennifer Hudson as its spokeswoman, and their re-vamped Facebook page reflect those changes.  Followers receive daily inspirational weight loss stories named, “Reasons to Believe” complete with before and after photos, daily recipes that lists the meal’s Point Value, and exercise tips.  The Zumba Fitness Facebook page definitely keeps followers engaged with content from their ZLife magazine about nutrition, fitness, beauty and music.

If you aren’t an avid Facebook user, there’s still hope, fitness social networking sites have also started popping up. The site Fitocracy made fitness into a game with quests, achievement badges and users can “level up” by reporting fitness activities. Or, you can try something like the Social Workout Challenge, which gives you fitness goals to meet and a community of people to keep you accountable for meeting them.

For small business owners who rely heavily on their smartphones, Foursquare allows users to see their entire check-in history and, if you do a quick search, you can find it so you can easily see whether you’ve really been going to the gym or frequenting your fast food runs.  Additionally, mobile apps like LoseIt and LiveStrong lets you log calories you eat and calories you burn.  Fitango prescribes personalized plans to help you get in shape and gives you a forum for sharing milestones you meet with your friends.  Similarly, Phitter is like a fitness-focused Twitter stream where people share weight loss trials, tribulations and tips to help keep each other going.

There are a myriad of ways you can maintain a healthy lifestyle, even while on the go. Find your inspiration or set a goal, then create a regimen that works for you and your schedule.

This week's blog was written by Kymberly Sheckleford. Kymberly is an Analyst with C2G Resourcing, a subsidiary of Consultants 2 Go, LLC.

It’s not an easy road.  Finding time on the calendar is difficult, but it must be done.  Whether or not you get in 30, 60 or 90 consecutive minutes of exercise, or do it increments, the point is to get in as much as you can.

Here’s what I do:

• Set an alarm – I try to get up early but that doesn’t work for me.  What works is setting an alarm throughout the day so that I can stop and do 15 minutes on the treadmill, or just lift weights.
• Do 15 minutes at a time, but 90 minutes is optimal.  On weekends, I work towards 90 minutes of exercise.  However, during the week, finding that amount of time in one block is difficult.  I no longer take an all or nothing attitude towards exercise.  I just get it in when I can, as long as I get it in for the day.
• Workout with a friend.  It’s more fun and gives you more incentive when you are doing it with a friend. 
• Exercise during phone calls.  You can lift small weights while you are on the phone.  Do squats or walk on the treadmill.  Or you can simply walk around while talking.
• Try yoga.  If strenuous exercise does not encourage you, then try something quieter like yoga.
• Walk and take the stairs when you can.  Don’t take the elevator one floor–just take the stairs.  I now take the train instead of my car because the stairs are excellent for keeping me in shape.
• Create exercises that you can do at home.  I need extra time to prepare to go to the gym and I usually don’t have that time.  I needed exercises that I can do at home and using equipment that did not take a lot of space.  So, dumbbells, a medicine ball, and a resistance band keeps me fit.

Because I have a lot of responsibility, I must exercise.  Exercise increases my productivity by sending enough oxygen to my brain.  When I stopped thinking of exercise as overwhelming and needing a huge block of time, it became easier for me to make it happen. 

Apply the same concept as you would to any business problem – break it down into small, manageable pieces.  You will be amazed how much exercise you can get into ten minutes.  You will see results in a short period of time.

Why was I gaining weight?  After all, I didn’t eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I gained quite a bit of weight not knowing my body was taking its own precautions and storing the fat.  As a result, I was sluggish in my business decisions, I didn’t attend events or take the train if I had to climb the stairs, and I drove everywhere so I didn’t have to be out of breath when I arrived for a meeting.

I had no time and was too busy to exercise – that was my excuse.

I only got two to three hours of sleep each night.  I am used to that since I’ve done it my entire life.  But it caught up to me.

I did not realize the impact on my business.

• My brain was not firing on all cylinders.  I was more forgetful than usual, I was slow in my transactions and responses, and I felt like sleeping in the middle of meetings.  I try to get five hours of sleep so that I’m more alert during the day.
• I loaded up on fruit and energy bars.  Now, I eat three meals per day as well as small snacks. 
• I’m exercising again because eating was the first step towards regaining my energy.

The best gift to my business was hiring a nutritionist for one month.  Once I understood how these bad habits created a negative effect on my business, I was able to make the appropriate changes.

Now, I equate running up a flight of stairs (Rocky-style) to taking my business to the next level—and I have the energy to do it.

The benefits to you and your business will be:

• Start cooking in the morning.  Your mind is fresh and you can think of more creative things to cook in the morning.  You can get the meal started and it will cook during the day when you are at the accountant’s office; then in the evenings, you spend less time preparing side dishes.
• Less heat in the kitchen.  Some business owners have an “office” at their kitchen table.  The kitchen gets hotter in warm weather when you turn on the stove or oven.  A crockpot does not give off any external heat so it’s great to use throughout theyear.  You can work without interruptions.
• It can be done anywhere.  One of my friends actually has a crockpot in her office’s pantry.  She puts all the ingredients in it when she comes into work, and makes lunch or dinner to take home.  Her employees have asked her if they can bring in their own crockpots as it is less stressful on them when they get home.
• You can schedule the cooking time.  There are models that allow you to control the cooking time.  If you’re in a rush, you can turn it up.  So, you can cook the same meal in 1 hour or 5 hours.
• So simple, anyone can do it.  If your family complains that you are always at the office and meals are late, you can teach your spouse or your children how to turn on the crockpot before they leave in the mornings or when they get home.  Once that aroma fills the kitchen, they won’t even remember you are not there.

You can find many crockpot recipes for your favorite meals.  I find stews, chili, and soups are extremely easy to make, but recipes that usually take a long time to cook, like pork, are also good candidates for a crockpot recipe.  Companies such as Campbells® or Kraft Foods® have recipes on their website.

Happy tax season – you have just freed up a lot of time to work on your taxes because dinner is covered!

1. Decreases the risk of getting sick.  When we are in good health, we can focus on our businesses to keep it healthy.

I finally realized that when I’m sick, my business suffers.  Usually, before I actually declare myself sick, especially with the flu, there are a few days leading up to that declaration where I was dysfunctional but pushed myself because I just didn’t admit that I’m not feeling well.  During that time, I cannot focus and dragged myself into the office – and sometimes make others sick as well!  When I exercise, my body can better fight off the flu and most of the times, it doesn’t materialize into a full-blown sickness.  If it does materialize into the flu, I’m back on my feet really fast.

2. Reduces our stress level.  When we are not stressed, we can develop creative ideas on how to make our business better and grow.

I’m always juggling conference calls, meetings and projects at any given time.  By the end of the day, I’m stressed.  Some people like to exercise in the morning, but I find that it relaxes me at the end of the day and gives me a second wind.  Without the constant interruptions, I find the time to quietly be creative about what I need to do for my business.

3. Helps our flexibility.   When we do stretching exercises, it makes us limber and flexible.  We are then able to become flexible in our business and quickly adapt to ever-changing trends.

Stretching is really pre-planning your exercise schedule.  It warms you up to get ready for the harder work ahead.  In the same way, I find that I’m able to do more pre-planning for my business instead of jumping in.  I make contingency plans in my pre-planning phase so that I can be flexible and adapt quickly to changes.

4. Sleep is better. Resting is an important part of our day.  Sleep allows our body to completely relax and recuperate from a stressful day.

When we get adequate sleep, we can concentrate on our businesses.  We are more alert in the presentation and sales processes and listen to our clients and customers.  I’ve made it a regular part of my ritual now to get five hours of sleep per night.  That is still not enough as I should aim for eight hours, but it is a far cry from the two to three hours that I used to get. There are a few days that I woke up without an alarm clock, refreshed and ready to start my day.

5. Allows us to have fun and stay engaged.  Just as we can do different forms of exercise to keep the fun in it, we must have fun working in our businesses every day.

I change my exercise routine from weight lifting to kickboxing to Zumba so that I can enjoy what I do to continue exercising.  Implement a similar change of routine in your business to keep your team engaged.  It can be as simple as changing a meeting from a conference call to an in-person one, or changing the venue from your conference room to outside in the park.

So, exercise has benefits both to our bodies and to our businesses.  Next time you consider not exercising, think about the decrease in revenues that goes along with that decision.

The social media site is experiencing astounding growth, and as of February, it has received 103 million visits, falling behind Facebook and Twitter as the third most popular networking site.  So how can a “virtual pinboard” benefit small business owners? Well, Pinterest can be used to leverage your brand and gain access to new markets, the same way a strategic partnership or alliance can, just within the social media realm.

Pinterest is an invitation only site, but you can sign up to request an invitation or you can receive an invite from someone you know who’s already a user.  Once you’re signed up, here are a few simple tips to get started:

• You can begin by following or commenting on content from members that interests you or creating your own pinboard by “re-pinning” the picks of other users as one way to build a network of followers.  The result is an electronic word-of-mouth network that can lead to snowballing attention for your business.
•  Pinterest is also a way for you to promote your product visually.  Users can showcase their brand/products on one board and assemble ideas from other members whose taste they share on others.  For example, Mashable suggests creating mood boards that integrate themes (weddings, home renovation, recipes, etc.) relevant to your brand and its latest styles.  This way you can avoid over-saturation of self-promotion and highlight aspects of your brand that may not come to mind at first.
• As a Pinterest member you can utilize the integration between Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.  Including Twitter hashtags to tag pins makes content more search-friendly and Pinterest cites the Travel Channel’s Facebook tactic: It asked its Facebook users what pinboards it should create.  The department store Bergdorf Goodman’s also implemented its Facebook followers by asking them to complete the sentence, “In the morning I never forget…” and then displayed the responses on a company pinboard. 
• Businesses can also make sure that a Pinterest user who clicks on their photos will be taken directly to the site where they originated, such as your company website or online shop. Remember to add the “Pin It” button to your ecommerce site, right next to your Facebook Like button.  This makes it easy for your website visitors to add images from your product pages directly to their boards.
• Above all, engaging with your followers like any other social networking site is key.  Generate interest in your work by participating in Pinterest communities, rather than simply promoting your products.  Try allowing members of the community to post to your boards.   When users upload their own pins to your boards, your themed boards will grow and you’ll quickly become part of the community fabric.

Pinterest’s openness is what works in its favor and can be a great boost to your business, so sign up and explore the wonderful world of pinning!  

This week's blog was written by Kymberly Sheckleford. Kymberly is an Analyst with C2G Resourcing, a subsidiary of Consultants 2 Go, LLC.

A strategic partnership is a formal alliance between two commercial enterprises, usually formalized by one or more business contracts but falls short of forming a legal partnership or, agency, or corporate affiliate relationship. A strategic partnership is a type of strategic alliance.

At the core of a successful business, there are strong strategic alliances.  In an alliance, you can increase profits, experience exponential business growth and garner a greater amount of visibility within your market.  Martha Stewart is a perfect example of a self-made business magnate, whose company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, forms strategic business alliances that pushes her merchandise to its intended market. 

In 2005, Stewart formed partnerships with Macy’s and J.C. Penny, two of the nation’s largest department stores in an effort to sell a wide range of home goods bearing the name of the business mogul.  Unfortunately, Macy’s learned of Stewart’s collaboration with J.C. Penny, a competitor for middle-market customers, the day before an announcement of the agreement and decided to pursue legal action for violation of its existing five-year deal.

Although Stewart risked future partnership deals because of this critical misstep, forming alliances with Macy’s and J.C. Penny was a gamble that was especially beneficial to each company in the long run.  As a small business owner, developing a strategic partnership that is mutually beneficial is always a priority in a business relationship but so is establishing trust.  Here are some tips on how to form a strong strategic alliance:

• Legalities:  A written contract is critical.  Iron out the details of the alliance directly with the other company, but have an attorney review the agreement before signing the document.  Try a short-term contract to see if the relationship works.  If it’s a long-term contract, make sure an exit clause is included for both of you.
• Non-Conflicting Agreements:  Stay away from forming alliances simultaneously with companies that are competitors.  As a business owner you risk violating terms of agreement which may result in a lawsuit. Also, if you’re interested in forming an alliance with another organization, remain transparent and honest about the partnership.
• Taking Risks:  When selecting a strategic partner, it is helpful to consider their strengths and weaknesses.  If you’re taking a risk by forming an alliance, evaluate its worth and the potential benefits.  Ensure it is a calculated move and you understand exactly what is at stake. 
• Mutual Benefits:  The goals of the alliance must be mutually agreed upon and must benefit all parties.  Be sure to negotiate a win/win that acts within the best interests of the partnership.

When looking to collaborate with another business, it’s all about forming the right strategic partnership that extends your access to new markets.

This week's blog was written by Kymberly Sheckleford. Kymberly is an Analyst with C2G Resourcing, a subsidiary of Consultants 2 Go, LLC.

For instance, my dry cleaner now offers shoe repair.  He doesn’t do the work himself but sends it out to his strategic partner.  He gets more of my business and my loyalty, and a piece of the margin no doubt, and the shoe repair company gets new business.

In many cases, strategic partnerships can help or hurt your business, depending on how well you create them, so it is important to be prepared with a lot of questions.  These questions are ones you and your potential partner should ask each other, and answer, before entering into the relationship.

What is the objective?   In other words, what is your end-game?  What do you want to accomplish by forging this alliance?  Make sure that the objective is really clear.  Just like your business goals set the clear path for your business, your partnership objectives set the path for your relationship:

• Are you looking for an economical distribution channel for your product like my new shoe repair company?
• Do you need a way in the door with a key decision maker to pitch your service?
• If you’re a small company, are you looking to partner with a complementary company to facilitate growth?
• Do you want geographic expansion so you need someone in a different area?

Articulating a clear objective increases the chances that your goal will be successful.

What are you willing to sacrifice for this partnership?  The answer is usually driven by how important the reward is to your success.  What is the value versus the cost?  I don’t know the name of the shoe repair company when I bring my shoes to my dry cleaner, so that company probably isn’t interested in brand recognition but in an inexpensive distribution channel to acquire more revenue.  What about you?

• If your closest competitor is killing your business because customers know their name, is brand recognition vital to your survival?
• Are you willing to walk away from the partnership if the economics don’t make sense?

Knowing your urgency for the outcome will help establish your parameters.

How will you identify the right partner?  Sometimes, the answer is obvious since you already know with whom you want to align.  The other party may have brought the solution to you before you realized you even had a need.  Often you’ll need to give careful consideration to a worthy partner.  If the objectives and the value are clear, the right list of potential partners should fall into place with a bit of searching – which can be done through efforts like networking, internet searching, event attendance, etc.  In my business, I speak to people all day long and the best thing I can do is to keep an open mind in each discussion because I often have an unanticipated “ah-ha” moment.

One final but important point…Once you’ve done all your homework and selected the right partner, don’t forget to legalize your working relationship with a contract.  Good communication is the key as in all relationships–just be prepared with all the answers ahead of time!

Annette Giordano handles business development for C2G, where she develops and deepens key client relationships.  Occasionally, she assumes marketing engagements as well.  Prior to C2G, Annette worked in marketing at American Express.  Building strong business partnerships has always been an important priority for her.