Is a six-month business mentoring programme a worthwhile investment or gamble?

[Holdinguphalfthesky]

I’m considering paying for the 6-month mentoring programme from Sina Port. Would you recommend I do this (or similar)? Is it, as they say, an investment- or a gamble?

The TrustPilot reviews are illuminating. There's no way I'd spend thousands on learning to be an influencer from someone with such damning 1-star reviews.

But then the 5-star reviews are glowing. Do you know of any alternative providers?

I really feel I need someone to hold my hand through this, I’ve got skills to offer and real value and improvement in quality of life, but I’m barely making ends meet because people don’t know about what I can offer them 😬

I did pay £27 to access a sort of trial programme and tbf some of that has actually helped a little bit. I just feel so nervous about the amount it costs, because if it doesn’t help, I’m stuffed! But I need to try something new.

Contact your local council or combined authority, they will have economic development and business support teams. There was be courses on offer.

What type of business do you need mentoring with?

You have 'value and improvement in quality of life'? What does that mean? You'll improve the quality of someone else's life in exchange for payment?

How would you go about that? And what would you actually do to 'improve quality of life'? What is your background professionally?

As a PP has said, a lot of councils offer business development/mentoring schemes - I would check out your local council first and see what is available at no cost to you

@Holdinguphalfthesky what kind of career do you want to have? Or are you trying to find a path that suits you?

No.
find a local business group which does breakfast and business or similar the connections and learning from such groups is superb

There is very negative commentary about this 'mentoring programme' online. Don't do it!

And be very careful about other providers too. It seems to be a sector full of dodgy claims.

Ok thank you. I’ve rethought, but still open to mentorship. My local council aren’t great, I am subscribed to their growth hub programme and yet to see any training that I could benefit from.

No no no. Dont bother. What is yr business area and what do you need help on? Loads of banks have free mentors

I’m a yoga teacher and yoga therapist, fully qualified and registered with the CNHC. So yes, I do nervous system regulation and can help people who are chronically stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, etc. (Among other stuff!) But at the moment my profit is being eaten up by business expenses, and I’m not very good at marketing, so I would love some help with that.

Cool business!

what are your business expenses? I can list mine…..

re “not very good at marketing” - do you have any satisfied clients?

What businesses expenses do you have?

You don't need marketing. You need advertising. Do you have leaflets up on the notice boards of all the village halls / community centres you use? Are there any areas locally which are not covered by an existing yoga teacher?

I'm assuming your expenses are largely premises rental. Can you find locations which cost less for you to rent, or can they offer a better rate at different times of day?

Are you trained in providing sessions to senior citizens and those with poor mobility? You might find some retirement village or other that would like to book you.

Yes mainly premises and fuel costs. I teach in local village halls but they’ve put their prices up by quite a lot recently. I advertise with leaflets and on local Facebook groups.

Really though I want/need more 1:1 clients and I just don’t know how to get them! Online would be great, then I don’t need a big space (I share a small office for privacy).

I’ve never managed to get any work from businesses or schools, but I don’t know whether it’s my pricing, their circumstances, lack of understanding of what I offer… I just feel I could use some help. I never worked in business before, always in public sector service delivery, so have no experience of this sort of thing.