BUILDING small rural businesses through mentoring programs such as not for profit, the Grow Zone, has proven beneficial for two rural business owners.
Two mentors and two small business owners shared their experience with the mentorship program at the RRR Network Stronger conference in Perth recently.
The experienced panel, moderated by SafeFarms WA project director Maree Gooch, explored how mentorships made themselves and their businesses stronger.
Committee for Perth chief executive officer Marion Fulker and MVP Financial director Doug Verley spent the past 10 years mentoring, coaching and encouraging Narrogin farmer Ashley Wiese and Yerecoin shop owner Amanda Welker.
Ms Gooch said a mentor was someone who had your back, someone who asked tough questions that you may not want to think about and someone who provided an amazing knowledge and networks that you probably have never dreamed about.
"These four amazing people have gone through the Grow Zone program, which started in 2009," Ms Gooch said.
"The program was funded by the Department of Agriculture (now the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) for the first few years, but it then became a not for profit program.
"Many of the people who went through that original program, of which there were 32, made an excess of $100,000, some in less than 12 months."
Mr Wiese, who also works on the Three Farmers Quinoa brand, was the first farmer to bring Quinoa to WA in 2010.
"I was really hungry at the time to free up my life and give a bit more time to my Quinoa business ventures," Mr Wiese said.
"I was a typical farmer.
"Living in a society where you aren't deemed to be successful unless you are working hard."
Mr Wiese worked six days a week on the farm but he had a burning ambition to go out on a different path.
With the help of Ms Fulker, who mentored Mr Wiese throughout his business ventures, he said he couldn't be more thankful for the time and effort she gave up to mentor him.
"Ten years later and my life is completely different to what it was then," he said.
"I look back now and it was a real turning point for us.
"We were in a typical family business.
"My parents were involved in the farm and we were running the farm in line with our family and community values.
"I think Marion helped because she come in as a complete outsider, without all the background baggage, and she came and looked at our structure with brutal honesty."
The Wiese farm at Narrogin was able to set up a structure that worked really well with their business model.
Ms Fulker said the journey was also educational for her as a mentor.
"During the journey it was great and it was a real partnership," Ms Fulker said.
"I learnt as much as I hope I gave Ash.
"Reflecting 10 years on I think back to the learning and I know I did ask the hard questions which got him and his family business to where it is today."
Yerecoin, general store, café and farm and rural merchandise business owner Ms Welker also decided 10 year's ago to join the mentorship program.
"From memory I was really apprehensive about coming into this program," she said.
"For me my biggest apprehension was coming into a program like this where I had to bear my business's sole to a complete stranger without the fear of being judged."
But Ms Welker said working with Mr Verley, who really opened her mind to viewing the big picture, was an amazing experience.
"You need to use that to drive your business," she said.
"Getting someone who is completely impartial, particularly in a family business setting is so valuable and I would encourage anyone to go and get a mentor."
MVP Financial director and previously an investment banker, Mr Verley said he was honoured to be asked to be a mentor 10 years ago.
"We all go in search of purpose," Mr Verley said.
"I had been plugging away for 25 years in my career and racking up qualification after qualification.
"I thought what a wonderful opportunity to bring value."
Mr Verley said working with Ms Welker and her small business in Yerecoin was a joy.
"She was smart, energetic and she was prepared to do the heavy lifting," he said.
"I will do structure, I will do focus, I will bring purpose, lend you my 33 years of experience, but you have to bring your piece."
Mr Verley said there were 2.1 million family business in Australia and they came with their troubles as well.
"You bring the business home and your business puts your family at risk, which is something a mentor can separate themselves from and push the business forward," he said.