Questions and answers
If yours isn’t here, ask it on the intro call form and I’ll answer it myself.
Who do you work with?
Freelancers and agency founders, mostly in web, design and marketing, with businesses up to about a million dollars in revenue. Some are still working alone or only just starting out. I only take on people aged 21 or over.
Does mentoring really work?
It did for me. My own business only started to move when I hired a mentor, and he had built his agency with a mentor before him. The reviews are from people I have worked with, in their own words.
What are your credentials?
I have set up and run six businesses, including two digital agencies that I still run, and I have mentored more than 500 founders and business owners. I am an official mentor for Techstars and Seedstars, and a board adviser to several companies and non-profits. The fuller version is on LinkedIn.
If you’re so successful, why do you charge for mentoring?
I’ve never claimed to be the most successful person out there. The work I do as a mentor helps my mentees build their own bank balance, so I think it’s fair to charge a reasonable amount for my time. I’ve also noticed that the people I help for free tend to be less committed.
What does success look like for a mentee?
It depends on the person. When I started I thought success meant twenty staff and a million pounds in revenue. Later I realised what mattered to me was the profit I kept and the time I got back. For some mentees it is a first client, for others a revenue milestone or financial freedom. We work out what it means for you, in confidence.
How long before I see a difference?
It depends how quickly you act on what we discuss. Most people who commit see a real change in their business within six months, and many see it sooner. Some stay a few months to fix one problem. I kept my own mentor for four years.
My agency is already established. Is this still for me?
It can be. If you want me involved in your commercial decisions between calls, look at Founder Counsel on harryoconnor.co.uk, which is built for that.
Can I cancel?
Yes, at any time and without notice. Plans are paid monthly in advance, and a month that has started isn’t refunded.
Why do you do this?
I started my career in education and I still like teaching. I left because I was disillusioned with the system, built a business, and found it very hard until I hired a mentor. Mentoring lets me teach again, to people who will use it.
Start with a call.
Tell me where the business is and where you want it to be. I’ll tell you how I’d get there, and whether I’m the right person to help.