By Margaret Maccoll
Jamie Loft is certain his donut business would not be the success it is today without Business Mentoring Noosa.
He left the building industry to run Donut Kitchen, selling donuts at markets, knowing he had a good product but not a background or knowledge in business.
Having regular input from his mentors John Spence Thomas and Julien Cahn has been like “a business crystal ball” to Jamie.
“You have people who know you have a good product and you come away from meetings energised,” Jamie said.
“To have feedback from people who understand your product and what you’re trying to do, that matters more than someone who bites into a donut and says, ‘that’s lovely’”.
Jamie said John and Julien had restrained his “bull at a gate” approach, encouraging him to reconsider his plans and “do the numbers” before raging ahead.
He said it wasn’t exactly advice they imparted but the benefit of learned experience relayed through anecdotes.
“Their ability to respond to a question with a question is uncanny,” he said.
It’s helped him remain focused, stay on course and be accountable, he said.
It’s been nine years since Business Mentoring Noosa began with an idea business woman Anna Day had to replicate a similar program operating in New Zealand.
Since then the program has had a few changes, had input from 60 volunteer mentors and assisted 400 local businesses. Founding members Bob Joubert, Julien Cahn and Mark Waite are still involved in the organisation and like their peers believe they get more out of it then they put in.
The service is unique in Queensland and perhaps Australia.
Bob believes its success or “secret science” as he calls it, lies in a combination of factors. Mentors are all experienced, mostly retired, they give their time freely and are not seeking to gain any benefit from their involvement.
“Most of us have been involved in corporate life,” Bob said.
“We’re keen on integrity – being open, honest, fair and confidential.”
Julien Cahn has helped more than 50 mentees during his time with the organisation and believes it achieves it’s aim by building relationships.
Peter Chenoweth says mentors assist by enabling business owners to take a step back to view to take a broader view. He said they see their mentees experiencing increased profitability and providing employment.
Each fortnight mentors meet to exchange ideas and experiences in a good natured fashion.
The mentors bring a wealth of diverse experience to the table.
Among them are John Spence Thomas who came to Noosa after working in international steel industry, British Steel.
Christina Charenkova came from a corporate life seeking a change in lifestyle and enjoys passing on the skills and knowledge she’s acquired.
“It’s good to have the experience from the room of different skill sets being brought to the table,” she said.
Former Gympie Times general manager Peter Read brings five decades of journalism to the group while Stephen Lovegrove spent 40 years in the transport industry.
Both Bob Joubert and Jan Osmond have significant backgrounds in banking. Russell Greenwood and Rod Solomons have worked around the globe. And Mark Waite, a self-employed IT expert who moved from Germany to Australia in 2008 is happy to be a shoulder to lean on. Mark, who set up the organisation’s website, said he wished he’d had a mentor when he began his first business.
While all the Mentors donate their time, Business Mentoring Noosa charges a $190 per annum administration fee.This affords a Mentee one and often two mentors for 12 months.
The fee covers a part time administrator, website fees and every two years any accumulated funds are invested into and a Speed Networking evening at The J Theatre.
For more information visit bmn.org.au
