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One of the oldest ways to pass on wisdom and knowledge from one generation of professionals to another has been through mentoring. At CPrint® we make sure that each one of our affiliates gets the benefit of this relationship which can have a profound influence on our success as business people. That’s why we take the business of selecting and training our mentors very seriously.
The term mentor comes to us from Greek mythology. Mentor was a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus. When Athena visited Telemachus she took the disguise of Mentor to hide herself from the suitors of his mother Penelope. As Mentor, the goddess encouraged Telemachus to stand up against the suitors and go abroad to find out what happened to his father.
Mentors today don’t have to be gods or take on the guise of others. In fact, it’s their human frailties that make them so effective; they’ve walked your trail and they continue to face up to life’s challenges every day.
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A surprise article in the local paper let Mitchell Printing know they’re getting it right. Their CPrint® standard customer service led to peons of praise from a columnist |
The most effective mentor advice can be refreshingly down to earth. Anne Mulcahy (CEO of Xerox) was reportedly told by her mentor, "When everything gets really complicated and you feel overwhelmed, you gotta do three things: first get the cow out of the ditch; second, find out how the cow got into the ditch; and third, make sure you do whatever it takes so the cow doesn't go in the ditch again."
It’s possible to have many mentors. Often the advice that stands us in good stead our whole lives through comes from a friend or a parent. Like that given to Herb Kelleher (founder and chairman of Southwest Airlines) whose mother told him, "Respect people for who they are, not for what their titles are." (Something to remember the next time you’re on a sales call to a new suspect.)
We make sure that our mentors are ready to inspire but, most importantly, they’re there to make sure that you have the nuts and bolts you need to build a successful business; the specifics and follow-up you need to help create and carry through your plans. Their in-depth knowledge and experience of the challenges that face independent printers each day ensure they can help you in a way that no one else can.
A big CPrint® thank you goes out to all those who have stepped up to the mentoring plate. We appreciate your going the extra miles (and even braving the Minneapolis chill) to help your fellow printers.
