The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
Small Business News

.

Self-employed Australians not achieving their full business potential due to lack of mentoring

  • Written by Media Release


New research by RedZed, a leading loan specialist for the self-employed, has revealed that only 1 in 5 self-employed Australians currently have a mentor and nearly half have never had one. However, of those who have had a mentor, an overwhelming 97% have found that their mentor has had a positive impact on their business success.

The benefit of a mentor on professional and personal growth was also acknowledged, with nearly all (97%) self-employed Australians stating that their mentor had an impact on this aspect of their individual development, with more than a third saying it had a significant impact.

Managing Director and founder of RedZed, Evan Dwyer, says: “At RedZed, we believe in the importance of mentoring and recognise what an asset it is for self-employed Australians, especially when they are growing and developing a new business.

“Mentoring plays a vital role in business confidence, and our latest survey highlights that business confidence is at a low with just over 1 in 5 self-employed Aussies (21%) feeling extremely confident when it comes to their business’ success in the years to come.”

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 60% of small businesses cease operating within the first three years of starting*.

Dwyer says: “I’m passionate about the power of mentoring and education in helping self-employed Australians achieve business success as I’ve experienced this first-hand myself with my own mentor. Having that person who has relevant experience and is happy to share it is very powerful”

With an ethos that every self-employed Australian should have the opportunity to have a mentor, coupled with RedZed’s commitment to providing advice and supporting Australia’s self-employed community, RedZed created the Meet the Master competition.

Now in its third year, RedZed’s Meet the Master, open to all Australian business owners, gives one small business owner the chance to meet their business hero – their “Master” – anywhere in the world.

Last year’s winner Kel Grey of The Pines Kiama, a family-run micro-dairy farm in NSW’s Illawarra region, met his master Jonny Crickmore, a famed award-winning dairy farmer from Suffolk in the UK.

Grey says: “Meeting my mentor gave me a renewed business focus and the confidence boost to always have a go. Since winning Meet the Master, I have moved from being a generational farmer, to proactively expanding my business into cheese making, which is a testament to everything that I learnt.”

Chad Griffin, owner of Stoke n Smoke BBQ in Canberra and self-professed BBQ lover, noticed that Canberra was lacking in delicious American-style BBQ smoked meats and was inspired to turn his passion for BBQ into a successful business.  After winning RedZed’s inaugural Meet the Master competition in 2017, he had the chance to meet Tuffy Stone, five-time BBQ World Champion and a successful businessman, in Virginia in the United States.

Griffin says: “Meeting my BBQ hero gave me a great insight into the business-side of BBQ-ing and I felt better equipped to grow my venture. When it comes to business, you need to have back-ups, you need lists, you need to be over-prepared. With the trip to meet Tuffy and the tools that I have picked up along the way, I can put all of this into practice and to ultimately succeed the first time around.”

Further, amongst self-employed Australians that currently have a mentor, both blue- and white-collar industries were evenly represented, with both sectors reporting a similar impact on their business’ success.

Entries for RedZed’s Meet the Master are now open – visit meetthemaster.com.au to enter.

Property Times

Rubber vs Concrete Wheel Stops: Which is Better for Your Car Park?

When it comes to setting up a car park in Perth, wheel stops are a small feature that make a big difference. From improving driver accuracy to preventing costly damage, the right choice between rubber and concrete wheel stops could save you time, mon...

What Is the Australian Government First Home Buyers Scheme About?

For many Australians, buying a first home can feel like a daunting task—especially with rising property prices, tight lending rules, and the challenge of saving for a deposit. To ease this burden, the Australian Government has introduced a First ...

Flipping vs. Holding: Which Investment Strategy Is Right for You?

Are you wondering whether flipping a property or holding onto it is the better investment strategy? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Both strategies have distinct advantages and risks, and choosing the right one depends on your financial goals, ...

A Guide to Smarter Real Estate Accounting: What You Might Be Overlooking

Real estate accounting can be a complex terrain, even for experienced investors and property managers. From tracking rental income to managing property expenses, the financial intricacies of real estate demand more than just basic bookkeeping. A si...

Food & Dining

Italian Lamb Ragu Recipe: The Best Ragù di Agnello for Pasta

Ciao! It’s Friday night, and the weekend is calling for a little Italian magic. What’s better than twirling up a rich, hearty pasta with a glass of bold red wine in hand? The real secret to Italian pasta isn’t just the noodles; it’s those incredible ...

Not all processed foods are bad for you. Here’s what you can tell from reading the label

If you follow wellness content on social media or in the news, you’ve probably heard that processed food is not just unhealthy, but can cause serious harm. Eating a diet dominated by highly processed foods means you’re likely to consume more kil...

Italian Street Kitchen: A Nation’s Favourite with Expansion News on Horizon

Successful chef brothers, Enrico and Giulio Marchese, weigh in on their day-to-day at Australian foodie favourite, Italian Street Kitchen - with plans for ‘ambitious expansion’ to be announced in the coming months.  Italian Street Kitchen: A slice o...

Après Skrew: Peanut Butter Whiskey Turns Australia’s Winter Parties Upside Down

This August, winter in Australia is about to get a lot nuttier. Skrewball Whiskey, the cult U.S. peanut butter whiskey that’s taken the world by storm, is bringing its bold brand of chaos to Aussie shores with Après Skrew: a mash-up of alpine energy...

Mirvac Harbourside

Business Times

Your CEO Has More Reach Than Your Ad Budget – You’re Just Not Usi…

By Patrice Pandeleos, Managing Director of Seven Communications If your CEO hides behind a logo while competitors build infl...

From Farms to Festivals: How Regional NSW Is Repurposing Shipping…

When you travel through regional NSW, you start to notice how resourceful communities can be. Open paddocks, winding countr...

Nail it with points: Flybuys members can redeem points for instan…

Flybuys launches new in-store redemption at Bunnings stores across Australia Tuesday 19 August, 2025 – Flybuys, Australia’s ...

The Times Features

Do kids really need vitamin supplements?

Walk down the health aisle of any supermarket and you’ll see shelves lined with brightly packa...

Why is it so shameful to have missing or damaged teeth?

When your teeth and gums are in good condition, you might not even notice their impact on your...

Australian travellers at risk of ATM fee rip-offs according to new data from Wise

Wise, the global technology company building the smartest way to spend and manage money internat...

Does ‘fasted’ cardio help you lose weight? Here’s the science

Every few years, the concept of fasted exercise training pops up all over social media. Faste...

How Music and Culture Are Shaping Family Road Trips in Australia

School holiday season is here, and Aussies aren’t just hitting the road - they’re following the musi...

The Role of Spinal Physiotherapy in Recovery and Long-Term Wellbeing

Back pain and spinal conditions are among the most common reasons people seek medical support, oft...

Italian Lamb Ragu Recipe: The Best Ragù di Agnello for Pasta

Ciao! It’s Friday night, and the weekend is calling for a little Italian magic. What’s better than t...

It’s OK to use paracetamol in pregnancy. Here’s what the science says about the link with autism

United States President Donald Trump has urged pregnant women[1] to avoid paracetamol except in ...

How much money do you need to be happy? Here’s what the research says

Over the next decade, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire[1]. The Tesla board ...