“It is so rewarding to help someone succeed. If you have helped someone at work become a better employee, then you have mentored someone. It takes very little time and the knowledge you have is important to the protege.”

“My mentor, Lawrence, is fantastic. His candid feedback and understanding of the challenges of working in Africa has been huge in finding solutions to any problems that may arise. Simply put, he has been there for us whenever we need him.”

“My mentor, Ryan Henry, helped me stay focused on my goals. Since I can be very ambitious as a day dreamer, sometimes a reality check helps. Discussing my business vision and strategic goals with an active listener helped set realistic goals to achieve them.”

“Don’t wait. If you have an idea, find ways to start testing it. Starting a business might seem daunting, so break down your idea and find small, less intimidating ways to test it. Learn as much as possible. This will help you decide whether to start a business with that idea, or a portion of that idea, or to try an entirely different idea altogether.”

“As a new business, I don't think you can ever have enough experienced people there to help you. Having Linda Daley as a mentor was great because she provided a fresh perspective and vital business experience.”

“My biggest advice would be to deeply evaluate what you want to accomplish as an entrepreneur before starting. You’ll face many difficult times and that’s the only way to keep going. Be passionate about what you’re doing. Join different networks and talk about your idea with as many people as possible. You need to go outside yourself and challenge your idea! And most importantly, take your time. I feel that when you have money, you’ll go faster but then your idea does not have enough time to evolve.”

“For people thinking about becoming an entrepreneur – do it. Embrace your creativity, let go of fear, accept the uncertainty, realize failure is a means to learning and work on painting your own picture of the future.”

“My mentor has helped me develop the confidence I need as an entrepreneur to make difficult but important decisions about the direction of my company. Peter has brought a great deal of experience that I learn from on an ongoing basis.”

“Seeking out support services like Futurpreneur or family and friends I believe is key. Having resources to assist you is probably the most important part of taking that first initial leap. Not only will you need help in the first stages ie. business planning, financial support, but having a support network to discuss ideas or get advice from is crucial. ”