“My mentor has been a valuable asset and contributor to the success of my business.”

That proclamation comes from Scott Schonschack. He is the founder and owner of Art & Image, Inc. His full-service design and sign business is located in Benton Harbor, an area known as "the great southwest" part of lower Michigan along the shores of the great lake "mishigami."

Scott's journey in the sign business began 25 years ago with a storefront, an Anagraph Plotter, 480 square feet of space and no room for doing vehicle graphics inside. Instead, they had to apply the graphics curb-side. Today he and his talented staff serve the greater area of southwest Michigan as a premiere "go-to" source for all types of signs and other visual brand and image solutions. He also has another stand-alone division in New Buffalo, Michigan.

The road to Scott's success involved many bumps and bruises. I am very familiar with his journey. Even though my own business and desk are miles and markets away from his, I've been able to experience the growth and evolution of his business and share in his ups and downs for the last two and a half decades of knowing him. We have a unique relationship. Besides sharing the same first name and at times being a potential competitor, I am his friend, an industry peer, and his mentor.

It is humbling when he refers to me in that kind of role and associates any advice I've provided over the years as helpful to his success. But as I think about it, he has done the same for me over the years as well.

That is how a true mentoring relationship works. It should serve both parties. It helps to have someone come alongside you that understands the joy and pain of owning a business—especially a sign business.

Scott and I have this relationship. Our businesses are better for it. This business-mentoring-relationship started the day we met at a national sign convention. We had just started our careers with signs. I was with my father-in-law, Walter Faltynski, who was an industry veteran with a lot of sign business experience. I was fortunate to have him as not only my first boss, but as a mentor to help guide and mold me as a leader for our business.

Scott took to Walt right away as someone he felt comfortable talking to and decided to maintain a connection in order to receive wisdom, advice and perspective as he worked through the barrage of items that a sign business has to deal with. In effect, Walt became a mentor to Scott and for his business just as he was for me.

We were both very lucky to have the opportunity to learn so much from such an awesome man of integrity with sign and business expertise. Sadly, we lost Walt just a handful of years ago. He taught us a lot, including how to be helpful to others. That's partially why Scott and I remain in contact and why we are able to comfortably ask each other questions and seek input for our businesses.

As the name of Scott's sign business suggests, Art & Image aligns its products and services to the needs for art and image; design and signs. As they begin their 25th year in business they will be launching a new line of business that will compliment the sign making but focus more specifically on the creation and production of visual media for corporate branding with interior display products. This new division will be a next step in how they plan to continue in building impressions.

Launching a new line of products, services or a business division is a serious decision. It should require a lot of due diligence as well as input from numerous sources— including a mentor. Since I've personally gone through and done the exact same things that Scott was planning, he sought out my advice.

At the end of the process, Scott polished his business plan and prepared for the formal launch of his new division.

With the new year just starting, now is a great time to evaluate your plans. And you just might want to consider running some of those plans by somebody who could serve you in the role of a mentor.

I asked Scott to share some of his personal thoughts about our mentoring relationship and the benefits he's experienced from it. 

Q—How has mentoring played a role with you and your business?

A— I remember how excited I was the night that I met you and Walt. You both have been great as mentors to me. I used to call Walt to discuss stages of business trends, and we always left the conversation on a positive note. Although your company was much larger than mine, the same growing pains had already been experienced.

With a mentor by your side you really feel the connection because they have already been down that road. I think Walt really liked to help people. I trusted his advice. With Walt gone, I've appreciated all the time and attention you've provided in the role of being a mentor for me.

Q—What is your definition of a mentor and how has using one helped you?

A—Mentors are simply teachers for business professionals and a source that I can get answers to my questions. I graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Biomedical Science with a student planned curriculum in Health Care Administration. I wound up in the sign business. Think I had questions? Now 25 years later I am about to venture into a new business. I now have more questions.

Mentors can play a huge part in the success of a business especially if you find one from your industry. A relationship can be made and trade secrets are passed. The experience and knowledge you gain is more valuable than any consultant charging you thousands of dollars.

Q—What are you doing now, and how has having a mentor been part of getting there?

A— We are launching a new company division of Art & Image in 2016 that will take design and incorporate visual themes to internal branding. From designers who understand how to make things look good to the nuts and bolts of the business and having production ability, we have something other design firms, advertising agencies and consultants do not—we can produce signs and just about anything visual with state of the art equipment to make just about anything.

It was ironic that when I sought out my mentor I found that not only was he still doing well with signs, but he'd basically done the same thing with his business by launching not just one but three new divisions for design and different types of products or processes for making products. I am learning from my mentor through his experience of doing the very similar thing I am planning to do.

Q—What would you tell readers about deciding to have a mentor?

A—I would recommend that all business professionals seek out a mentor to share ideas and to gain the input and experiences they would have to offer. All too often we think we can do it alone. My mentors have been an asset to the success of my sign business. Mentors help you to build impressions.