In 2003, I was working in Ireland for a company and realized I wanted to get out of corporate and run my own business. As a result, I bought EmergingSoft a few years later. While in its infancy, I believed his Sales/Business Dev skills could mature the company and help it grow but had to learn how to be a business owner. I received a call from MESA which was in its own early stage and the relationship started. It was the right time for some good mature guidance.

There were two big challenges. First, identifying and setting the RIGHT priorities. Less tactical and more strategic. I was great at getting stuff done, but thinking about 2 years from now was something I was not good at. MESA held me accountable to a more visionary and strategic mindset. Owner ends up wearing 10 hats (making coffee, etc)., planning gets pushed to the side to get today done, but it’s necessary. Second, business focus. There were multiple directions we could have gone, but MESA was like a Board of Advisors, so holding me accountable was critical.

One-on-one smaller sessions were great, but when I was forced to do a “State-of-the-state” presentation to a broader audience of MESA Mentors, it forced me to think differently than the day-to-day stuff. Pressure to deliver in front of an audience.

Recommend it highly. Would like to emphasize that MESA is an independent third party with zero connections to the business, so as a result, it was always about “How do we help this company get better?”

Accountability. Focus. Challenge.

Extremely positive. This is all about you (the business owner): just push you to make you do the right stuff.