The Microbrewery Handbook

Chapter 23The Value of Finding and Preserving Mentorship

MENTORSHIP IS VALUABLE in so many ways when someone is starting or growing their business.

It's learning from someone who has been successful, learning from someone who has made mistakes, and learning from someone who can identify barriers and see around corners because of all that experience.

It's safe to assume already that it's valuable to you – it's the same reason you are motivated to read this book. We all have that thirst to know we're on the right path or doing the right thing.

We're additionally blessed to be in an industry where collaboration is the norm. “Competing” breweries are much more likely to help with lending a tool or part or trading those hops on a whim. I don't think most restaurants would say the same thing. I put this chapter in customer experience, because so much of mentorship in our industry isn't just how we treat customers, but the kind of experience we provide to our fellow independent craft breweries. We're all in this together, and sometimes that gets lost.

The takeaway for this chapter is that if you're willing to put in some time, it is much easier to get a mentor than you may think. I'll share some tips on how to cultivate that relationship later.

My story and mentorship in business really starts with three people: my father, Jim Reeves; my boss, Quint Studer; and Bert Thornton.

My father was a real estate attorney in Pensacola who was involved in many facets of different businesses, ...