When the Guide is Gone: Why Business Needs Better Mentors
By Susie Taylor | Contributor WBN News | 3 June 2025
In the wild, elephants are known for their intelligence, deep family bonds, and almost mythical memory. But in some parts of the world, scientists have observed a troubling change: elephants becoming more aggressive toward humans.
Why?
The answers aren’t simple, but researchers point to years of trauma — poaching, habitat destruction, and the loss of experienced matriarchs. In elephant society, the elders teach the young. They model behavior. They pass down wisdom. Without that steadying presence, young elephants are left to navigate a complex world without guidance.
And in that vacuum, things can get dangerous.
As odd as it sounds, there’s a lesson here for business owners — especially when it comes to mentorship.
Entrepreneurship can feel wild. Messy. Overwhelming. The terrain changes fast, and the stakes are high. Without someone trustworthy to guide you — someone who’s been through the hard stuff and come out wiser — it’s easy to get reactive, mistrustful, and burned out.
Too many business owners are walking around with old wounds from bad advice. A coach who pushed them into strategies that didn’t fit. A “guru” who sold them a one-size-fits-all program with no regard for their actual business. A mentor who was more concerned about their own image than your growth.
That’s not mentorship. That’s manipulation.
Real mentors don’t just teach you how to grow your revenue. They teach you how to grow yourself — how to lead, how to listen, how to stay rooted when things get tough. They model calm in chaos. They tell the truth with compassion. They offer structure without stifling your soul.
Much like the matriarch elephants who teach the young how to navigate watering holes, predators, and social hierarchies, the right mentor helps you avoid the dangers and distractions of your environment — and move forward with confidence.
So if you’re looking for guidance in your business journey, don’t just follow the loudest voice in the room.
Follow the one who’s walked the terrain.
Who listens before they speak.
Who knows what’s at stake, and still believes in what’s possible.
Because with the right mentor beside you, you don’t have to face the wild alone.
Contact: Susie Taylor - susie.taylor.writer@outlook.com
Excerpt: When trusted mentors disappear — whether in nature or business — chaos can follow. Drawing insight from elephant herds and entrepreneurial journeys, this article explores why wise, grounded mentorship is essential for growth, resilience, and meaningful success.
Tags: #Business Mentorship #Authentic Leadership #Guided Growth #Leadership Wisdom #Purpose Driven Business #Small Business Growth
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