There is much you can do to help others succeed. Sometimes it’s as small as a thoughtful note of appreciation or encouragement or an answer to a question that may save a colleague hours of research. Mentoring offers another way for people to help others become successful, individually or in a group.

            Most successful people know the importance of finding mentors—those wise and trusted counselors and teachers who know the ropes in business and are willing to listen, support, and advise you on whatever issues are most important. People who seek mentors often find them through friends, trade associations, the Small Business Administration, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and business organizations such as American Woman’s Economic Development Corporation (AWED).

            However, people develop new ways of matching people with mentors all the time. Local chapters of men’s and women’s organizations such as American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), and chambers of commerce have entrepreneurial groups and mentoring programs.

            Ollie Stevenson, who ran her own consulting business gives an example of projecting personal values on others, and why a mentor needs to remain objective. One of the men attending one of her workshops had applied for a job and the company asked him many questions that seemed intrusive, such as his last performance reviews. Ollie said, “One of the women in the group said, ‘Oh that’s terrible; if I were you, I’d rethink working there.’” Ollie told the woman, “You don’t understand that he wants that job—you don’t. If you want to help him, you need to suggest to him ways he can accomplish his goals, not tell him what you think he should do based on what you would do.”

            For mentoring to work, the goals and impetus has to come within the person being mentored. Mentoring is one situation where both people get a great deal out of the exchange. The mentor is giving back and the person receiving the help is being empowered to achieve greater levels of success.

How to become a good mentor:

·         Think of the people who have helped you along the way

·         Remember what it feels like to get positive reinforcement

·         Remember what it feels like to have people tell you what they think you should do

·         Listen with the intent to understand the goals of the person being mentored

·         Set aside more time than you think necessary to mentor well

            Passion and creativity often go hand in hand. You can do the same things for many years and not get burned out when you challenge yourself to be creative in the way you grow your business, stay on top of technology and find new ways to express your personality and interests. Ruth Heine expanded her vision of what she could do with her photographic abilities to keep her interest in her job alive with the added bonus of developing her passion.

            Ruth learned the art of photography from an old-line portrait company. After ten years there she decided she was feeling creatively stifled and wanted to strike out on her own. She knew she was good at taking pictures, so she turned to the photo-finishing end of the business and her interest in business expanded. “I like control from start to finish—take the photographs, develop the film, set the picture on paper and do the presentation. Over time the technical end became more satisfying than the photo shoot. I enjoy using different temperatures from what’s recommended by the film manufacturers. Sometimes I vary the timing or the paper I use. I enjoy the whole process, from meeting the client, listening to his needs, coming up with a variety of ideas and executing the project. I’m passionate about every single aspect. If you’re not passionate you don’t do a good job.”

            Ruth had decided to refocus the direction of her career and to set new creative challenges. She wanted to keep her work fresh and engaging. She had reached an age where she had experienced a lot about photography and needed more from her work to feel satisfied. She said, “I was at the stage where I had done it, and knew I was good at it. I needed a new challenge, so I took a travel agent's course. For four years I didn’t take my camera when I traveled, because I needed a break from my profession. But I saw that what I was doing would evolve into something new and challenging. I planned to combine my love for travel and my photography.”

            Part of the joy of life is learning new things, which can be frustrating sometimes, but rewarding when mastered. Ruth is one example of someone who found her passion by doing things, learning new skills and combining the best of what she knows. Some people feel they should know what they feel passionate about without challenging themselves; and when they can’t identify their passion they feel discouraged. Passion develops from trying many things. Looking at things creatively, from different angles and perspectives, and taking physical or virtual classes, help you challenge yourself to take what you already do and know to a new more passionate level.

Develop your passion by:

·         Expect to “develop” your passion rather than “find” it

·         Challenge yourself to learn new skills

·         Stay curious about new technology that expands what you already do

·         Combine what you know with something new

·         Say “yes” to opportunities to go new places and try new things

·         Have fun with what you do

Successful people know that one of the best ways to enjoy their work is to create excellent customer relationships. They have fun with their customers, engage them in many ways and produce a product that pleases and helps them. When customers are satisfied, everyone in the organization can feel satisfied, too. It motivates them to produce even better products and services that will continue to serve customers’ needs. Knowing what customers like and will buy can also spark creativity and lead to new ideas.

            Look at customer complaints as free consulting. Value the input from customer complaints—such customers are giving you free advice. Talk to the customer to learn all the details of the situation. Listen and ask whether he or she has a suggestion. Make sure the customer feels appreciated for making the effort to call and complain, and that you sincerely want to rectify the situation and future “failings” in an effective way.

Every employee who answers the phone reveals the mood of the company to the person calling. Customer service starts with the internal customers—your employees. Creating an atmosphere where listening and being helpful matters. It will carry over into all aspects of the business—especially customer service, your conduit to your customers.

            Great communication and respect within a company has a ripple effect. Sue Swenson said that she derived her success from seeing a team of people work well together.  People who work well together have a great impact on an organization. It starts with happy employees and spills over to the customers. Wildly successful people often feel that the “secret” to their success is happy employees that involve customers in their enthusiasm.

            Make sure you know what benefits your customers and clients derive from what you do. Keeping focused on the benefits helps keep you focused on the enjoyment of your enterprise. It also keeps you from feeling isolated from your customers. You are in it together, after all.

The short list of how to make customer complaints turn into valued advisors is as follows:

·         Think of your customers as allies

·         Keep a positive mental attitude to the fact that mistakes and failures happen

·         Stay interested in the customer’s point of view

·         Enjoy your employees so that they in turn will enjoy the customers

·         Set a positive mood in your company for the employees

·         Communicate well with employees and customers

What factors make work enjoyable? Passion, a positive attitude and a sense of excitement and adventure—and fun—are the things that make work more than “just a job.” There’s no mystery in the fact that the rewards of work, both tangible and intangible, are greater when people are truly engaged in what they’re doing. Nor is it a surprise that other talented people are inspired to work with and for people who are having a great time and enjoying high levels of success.

Whether it’s better customer relations or breakthrough products you seek, you’re more likely to achieve them if you’re energized by a passion for what you want to do, the leavening touch of humor, and the ability to enjoy the challenges you face.

Successful people tell me that they like accomplishing great things, in many cases despite daunting odds, but that they also want to enjoy what they do. They say that having a good time, even having fun, is a major part of the success equation. Having a good time takes a number of forms; from designing and developing creative products or services to pleasing customers to figuring out ways to keep business growing to working with other people.

It’s not so much what successful people do but how they go about doing it that makes their work enjoyable and fun for them.

For instance, Nancy Mueller, founder of Nancy’s Specialty Foods, says “The fun is in achieving objectives and the excitement is in building the brand.”  Over the years, Nancy surpassed her initial dreams many times over. “Your goals grow along with the opportunities. The passion comes from the challenge and the excitement of growth.”

Jenniefer Kirk, President of Sales of Kirks Folly, says, “The whole thrust of our company is fun. Our product is fun. It’s pure whimsy and fantasy designed to make people happy, and make people smile. That’s really what this company is about.” Wonder what her company makes? Jewelry. Around the often angelic and fairytale inspired pieces, Kirks Folly has a newsletter, The Angelic Herald, and has organized Caribbean cruises to inspire and include their customer.

This doesn’t mean that Nancy and Jenniefer had fun every minute of their business lives, but they relished the challenges and the opportunities they saw in their businesses. Women like them radiate enthusiasm and joy that many don’t traditionally associate with work. T

How can you, like these women, master the art of enjoying what you do?

1.     Offer services and products you are proud of

2.     Create work groups that enjoy one another

3.     Tap into your creative side

4.     Meet and overcome difficult challenges with integrity and energy

5.     Keep a sense of humor even in difficult times