Lesson #1: The Importance of Mentorship

I never knew the significance of a mentor until I met my own. It was about two years ago, the summer after my freshman year of university, that I truly realized where my passions were (brand design and content creation). I’d found a project that led to an intense bout of research and exploration on what it meant to truly design a brand; what it meant to be a content creator. Meeting people in this field is ominous because brand design often goes unaccredited and under the radar as companies do not want to compromise their legitimacy or their value by letting their consumer base know that they aren’t the ones maintaining their own image.

Upon my reserch into the field, I wanted to find someone local, someone I could confide in and expect honest and non-biased answers. I wanted someone tangible, someone whose work I could see and understand with my own eyes, mind, and hands.

Mentor – a trusted counselor or guide

Webster Dictionary

That’s when I met Lauren Davis!

Lauren Davis describes herself as a, ” graphic designer, brand builder, marketer, lecturer, and community enthusiast.” Her and her husband Skyler Davis own Rockford’s most popular record and gift shop; they draw eyes all over town for their community activism and power-couple dynamic. I knew when I did the research that their values and passions aligned with my own… this meant she would be my ideal mentor.

After reaching out, I became an intern for her creative firm, Lauren Davis Creative. Lauren taught me everything from how to make a content calendar to how to utilize my girl power to take charge in networking situations. I have utilized her as my main entrepreneurial and creative confidant ever since.

• 

Lauren has since begun traveling and speaking at many social and marketing conventions across the country. She continues to have upward success… yet another quality to be admired and she still remains ever-so humble. She has also been named as a “someone to watch” by a few publications.

Check her out here!

Tell me again… why does this matter?

The skills I have learned form Lauren have truly launched my ability to conduct myself as a businesswoman. Not only does her drive and overall self-employment journey inspire me, but she has created a wonderful template of how I want to attack my dreams. She’s very open about her journey and has no issues with bringing my head back to reality when I start to spin and burn out. Lauren offers a blunt, yet kind, third-party, experienced point of view. She’s the one person I know that I’ve built a relationship with based on my dreams, thus she is more inclined to give me the push I need to head in the right direction.

Finding a mentor can seem daunting. You may feel as if no one wants to “waste their time on some inexperienced amateur.” Often times this is not the case, especially if you find someone open-minded and aligned with your values. Harnessing the power of a third-party professional and unbiased advice has led me to many amazing opportunities. These people have experienced everything you are about to and offer excellent foresight.

Take advantage of the minds around you. Not only will you receive great, professional guidance, but you might also gain a pretty great friend in the business too!

• 

• 

• 

•