TRIED AND TRUE STRATEGIES
BYU alumnus Bart Howell is a
seasoned sales and marketing professional. Even as a young salesman, he won top
sales honors year after year. He grew a company from $5 million to nearly $40 million
organically in 6 years. Later, he built his own company in CD/DVD manufacturing,
printing, and B2B marketing. This company, Media Fast, has prospered for 22
years, yet—amidst all his success—Howell still devotes time to giving back.
Howell sat down with the Alumni
Career Services to discuss some of the strategies that have proven consistently
productive in his career and that he passes on to others through his
opportunities to mentor.
Why is mentoring important?
It’s been my experience that most
successful people in life or in business have someone they call their mentor.
Many times it is a parent or other close relative. Other times it is a
professor, first employer or a business associate. Mentors can help beginners avoid
serious mistakes that can ruin a business or a family’s financial well being.
Mentors can tell you what you
don’t know. Avoiding mistakes or taking advantage of opportunities that were
previously unknown help a business grow faster and build stability along the
way.
You have been mentoring job seekers and young entrepreneurs for going on three years now. What kind of advice do you give?
More than business-help, a good
mentor will also give “life advice”
that facilitates balance and good values in a person. Strong values help in
making good decisions. A person with good values will attract others with
similar values and together as a team will build a successful company.
Many times it is just a maxim or a motto that can inspire in times of struggle and uncertainty given
by a mentor that provides enough encouragement and faith to continue on after a
hard day, week or month.
Other times a mentor helps without
knowing by being an example and
acting professionally and courteously regardless of the situation.
We often presume the recipient of service gets the most out of it. One doesn’t have to look very far to see a different perspective. What do you think?
Many times the mentor learns just
as much from the mentee he or she teaches. Seeing others succeed and prosper as
a result of your advice or encouragement is extremely rewarding. Being a mentor
is a very tangible way to “pay-back” the help and example you received during
your career. It perpetuates the ideal and dream of a successful life and
business.
The Alumni Mentoring Partnership has been put in
place to help students and alumni easily gain access to professionals with this
kind of knowledge and a similar outlook on giving back through mentoring. So,
if you like what you’ve read thus far, check us out: alumnicareers.byu.edu/amp/
