Mentoring a Boss by Rhonda Turner

Rhonda Turner is the CEO of The Rustic Brush, and Owner of The Rustic Brush – Memorial and Pearland locations. She is also a 29-year veteran Sergeant with the Houston Police Department. Rhonda empowers women by cultivating new entrepreneurs to become business owners and making their dreams a reality.

I’m not new to the world of business ownership? It’s in my bloodline. It’s innate to my spirit. I was fortunate enough to be born in the McGowan and Gillespie bloodlines, where Principals, Educators, Landowners, Politicians, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Judges and Business Owners to name a few, abound. Success oozes from the droplets of blood and sweat of my ancestors.  Looking from the outside at the lives of my successful family members, I thought it would be easy.  They made it look easy.  So, I had the impression that “Bossing” would be easy for me. Well, not exactly.

Many women are fascinated with the idea of entrepreneurship… “Oooo say it again”, entrepreneurship. It’s like “Mufasa”.  It invokes images of strength, power, stability, and invincibility. But even entrepreneurs had to get their start somewhere.  They just weren’t born with that kind of knowledge.  Let’s explore what are some of the first major issues encountered when becoming a Boss: getting started and what to do next?  

First, if you’re getting started, you’re on the right track. You are reading this and doing your research. The good news is, there are no tricks or gimmicks; in short, the answer is just good old fashion mentorship. We as Bosses like to think we can do this endeavor alone and we skip seeking out a good mentor and try to proceed, only to find ourselves a year or two later, back searching for step one, a mentor. 

Locating an entrepreneur who’s willing to mentor may not be as easy as it sounds considering some people refuse to mentor for fear of competition. However, that limited thinking only hinders growth. Being a Boss is not only recognizing you need direction and help from a business mentor who has already walked in the shoes you are about to buy but also recognizing that helping another woman reach her heights through your guidance is true Bossism. 

Mentorship is knowing we all can learn from each other and grow our businesses together. Find a mentor who’s not afraid of your talents but encourages them. One who will remind you of the goals you set and help you stay focused on them.  Goals like creating a business brand and a marketing strategy, creating a realistic and manageable business plan and goals that set deadlines, and celebrating the minor successes of meeting those deadlines.  

Mentors can guide and help light the path that’s filled with questions, self-doubt, and confusion.  The mentorship relationship also has positive benefactors that all parties enjoy, not just the mentee. Such as mental support, professional bonding, and communication development. 

As a person who initially skipped the first step and didn’t think I needed a mentor, I now advocate for it and understand the impact it can have in a Boss’ world, whether a new or seasoned entrepreneur.  The relationship and growth obtained by not only having a mentor but also being a mentor is essential and necessary as we continue to maneuver entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Rhonda at www.therusticbrush.com
Instagram: @therusticbrushmemorial