What Makes Mentoring Powerful
The Product Marketing 101 class I taught at Station Houston.
I’ve served as a product marketing mentor over the five years. I advise domestic and international start-ups on digital content and marketing strategy. After many face-to-face sit-downs with budding entrepreneurs, I’ve learned a valuable career lesson: mentoring is mutually beneficial for the mentee and mentor. The mentee obtains the knowledge needed to improve a product and/or service; the mentor receives first-hand insight into “on the ground problems.” As a practitioner, I encourage all to mentor — even if just a handful of times a year. You’ll find that the interaction jump starts productivity and improves your quality of work.
I am reading Bill Aulet’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Start-Up. To be candid, when I picked it up, I thought, “Ah, another start-up ‘help’ book.” I was hooked halfway through the first chapter. Aulet’s observations fit my experiences as a mentor and entrepreneur. Step into a bustling incubator and feel positive feedback loop energy. I learn from them; they learn from me. Most importantly, what I don’t know, I look up later and file away in my brain.
A valuable mentor observes, facilitates, and participates in the positive feedback loop. And, mentors (arguably) get better at the “instructors have to improve” step in the process. The questions my mentees ask are focused and poignant. I feel as though I help and I walk away with homework. I research their company’s software products and new marketing platforms in beta. The 1x1 conversations drive my decision to learn and stay relevant.
When I spoke with a colleague about the mentorship homework I receive, he asked, “Did not knowing about a new software make you feel inadequate?” No, quite the contrary. Information flows quickly every day; it is impossible to keep up with new developments. And, anyone who claims to know EVERYTHING is probably dumb. Mentoring helps me keep a pulse of what’s happening in a burgeoning tech community, and, it makes me a better professional for it.
What I Learned Auditioning for ABC's Shark Tank
Last week, I attended the Black Enterprise Summit and learned of the Houston auditions for ABC's Shark Tank. I promptly signed up to pitch my mobile app, NewsAGENT, with a prepared business plan. I spent the next day in a ballroom surrounded by eager business professionals from all over Texas and ABC Network producers. As a result of the process, I became a more refined tech professional.
Last week, I attended the Black Enterprise Summit and learned of the Houston auditions for ABC's Shark Tank. I promptly signed up to pitch my mobile app, NewsAGENT, with a prepared business plan. I spent the next day in a ballroom surrounded by eager business professionals from all over Texas and ABC Network producers. As a result of the process, I became a more refined tech professional. I am ready to pitch on the spot. Unafraid. In a nutshell, here’s what I learned:
Houston is (Indeed) a Burgeoning Tech City
At the beginning of May, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner declared a plan for an innovation district. Me, and my fellow tech colleagues, across the City rejoiced for our small community. I bumped into a fair amount of auditioners pitching tech projects in a room of diverse business owners. It’s encouraging to see more of us out there pounding the Clutch City pavement with aspirations to swim with the Sharks.
Marathon vs. Sprint
I was the second to last person to pitch for the day after the friendly, bleary-eyed ABC Network producers interviewed hundreds of people. I’d waited for hours for my name to be called, and, it’s the way of the game. To pass time, I networked with peers and met potential future collaborators like j.griffith public relations and Keon Armstrong. Houston is the fourth largest City in the nation. But, professional circles run small. We took notes from each other, exchanged business cards, and scheduled coffee meetings.
Five cups of coffee later, I learned to be as enthusiastic during the 100th time of giving the same pitch when I finally met the producer. Just as energetic as the first time!
Pitch, pitch, pitch - Until Your Face Turns Blue
Shark Tank auditions attract business owners across various industries. In this setting, I felt like a fish out of water. (Ha!) I am accustomed to brainstorming ideas with fellow tech people, especially as a mentor and lecturer at Station Houston. However, practice pitching in front of non-tech business owners is a gift. My pitch became stronger from when I walked into the waiting room until the final pitch in front of producers. Fashionistas, bakery owners, and automotive experts poked holes in my argument and asked for the definitions of common tech acronyms. By coaching each other, our respective pitches were refined and clarified for anyone to understand.
By practicing for hours, before the final pitch, the original nerves went away. My voice stopped shaking and leg stopped twitching. Practice until you’ve got in down like the alphabet--in two minutes or less. Please.
Thank you to the tv producers for the opportunity. I'm ready to pitch NewsAGENT to all--SharkTank or not.