Paige Fisher
I’ve never met a successful business owner who truly did it alone. Not one.
Behind nearly every thriving business is someone who stepped in at the right moment, a person who shared experience, offered perspective, or simply provided reassurance when things felt rocky.
When I talk with new business owners today, I hear that same mix of excitement and pressure. They believe deeply in what they’re building and care about getting it right. At the same time, they’re navigating marketing, finances, regulations, staffing, and customer expectations all at once, and often for the first time. The learning curve is steep. The stakes feel personal. And too often, the journey feels isolating.
It’s here where mentorship matters.
Helping someone doesn’t mean having all the answers or being the most successful person in the room. It doesn’t require perfection. At its core, mentorship is about listening, sharing what you’ve learned, especially what you learned the hard way, and helping someone understand that challenges are part of the process, not a sign that they’re failing.
Sometimes that guidance helps a new business owner avoid a costly mistake. Other times, it’s something smaller but just as important: talking through a decision, helping prioritize what really needs attention right now, or offering perspective when everything feels urgent. And sometimes, the most valuable thing someone can say is, “What you’re experiencing is normal, and you’ll get through it.” That reassurance can be the difference between giving up and pushing forward.
I’ve seen how powerful even one conversation can be. Confidence grows when someone feels supported, and confidence is often what carries a business through its toughest season. Mentor relationships shorten the learning curve and replace uncertainty with connection. It reminds people they don’t have to figure everything out on their own.
But this kind of support isn’t just about helping individual businesses; it’s about strengthening the entire community.
When new businesses succeed, we all benefit. They create jobs. They fill vacant storefronts. They support local vendors and service providers. Over time, they become sponsors, volunteers, and civic leaders. They invest in the places where they live and work. Strong relationships help ensure that this cycle of investment continues.
In many ways, giving back through these relationships is also a responsibility. Most of us didn’t get to where we are entirely on our own. We benefited from people who took the time to answer questions, make introductions, offer encouragement, or share lessons learned. Mentoring the next generation of business owners is one way to honor those responsibilities and pay them forward.
In smaller communities, these connections are essential. Relationships matter here. A single introduction, a phone call returned, or an honest conversation can have a lasting impact. This kind of support reinforces the idea that this is a place where people look out for one another, and that sense of connection is one of Alpena’s greatest strengths.
One misconception I hear often is, “I’m not far enough along to help someone else.” I don’t believe that for a second. You don’t need decades of experience to be helpful. If you’ve opened your doors, survived a slow season, hired your first employee, navigated a setback, or learned something the hard way, you have knowledge worth sharing. Mentorship works best when it’s grounded in real experiences, not polished success stories.
That’s why I encourage experienced business owners across Northeastern Michigan to consider serving as mentors through the Northern Michigan Mentorship Cohort, facilitated by the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce. This program connects seasoned business leaders with new and growing entrepreneurs who aren’t looking for handouts; they’re looking for guidance, perspective, and someone willing to walk alongside them for a bit. Call it a shameless plug if you want. I’d call it a reminder. Connection matters. Supporting each other matters. And our communities are stronger when we do both.
Mentorship can take many forms. It might be one conversation. It might be a few hours a month. It might simply be sharing lessons learned the hard way. But its impact lasts far longer than the time invested.
At its core, mentorship is an act of belief, belief in people, in potential, and in the future of our community. If we want thriving businesses, strong local economies, and places where people choose to build their lives, giving back can’t be optional. It’s how we make sure there’s always something, and someone, worth building up next.