How important is a mentor for an entrepreneur? Ask founders, and many will tell you about one person who believed in them early. Here is how to capture that story.

Mentors, partners, and early fans can shape a founder’s path in ways that are hard to measure but easy to feel. A teacher who said “you can do this.” A first partner who took a risk. A customer who kept coming back and telling friends. This post gives you questions and a story template to capture the people who helped a founder early on.

It works for every industry: food, arts, travel, banking, trades, nonprofits, and family businesses where a grandparent may have been the first mentor.

Why this story matters

New entrepreneurs often think they must do everything alone. Stories of early supporters show that success is rarely solo. They also give readers ideas about where to find help and how to be that person for someone else.

These stories honor the helpers, too. Many founders say they never got the chance to properly thank the person who believed in them.

Before the interview: permission and honesty

This post is a template and interview guide, not a finished story. Use it only with a real founder who agrees to share. Explain how the story about the people who helped them early will be used and where it will appear. Get their permission in writing before you publish.

Use only their real words and facts. Do not fill gaps with guesses, made-up quotes, or numbers you cannot check. If a detail is unclear, ask again or leave it out. Let the founder read the final draft before it goes live, and remove anything they are not comfortable sharing.

Interview questions

Ask these questions in a relaxed setting. Let silence do some of the work. Follow up with “Tell me more about that” whenever an answer feels important.

• Who believed in you before you believed in yourself?
• How did you meet them?
• What did they say or do that mattered most?
• Was there a moment their support changed your path?
• Did they ever tell you something hard that you needed to hear?
• What did you learn from watching how they worked?
• Did you have early partners or first fans who made a difference? How?
• Have you ever been able to thank them? What would you say?
• How do you try to support others now?
• What advice would you give someone looking for a mentor?

Story template

After the interview, shape the founder’s answers into a short story using this outline:

• The founder then: Where they were when they met this person.
• The helper: Who they were, described with permission.
• The moment: What the helper said or did.
• The impact: How it changed the founder’s path.
• Passing it on: How the founder helps others now, and a lesson for readers.

How to turn answers into a story people remember

Pick one moment, not the whole life story. Look for the answer where the founder’s voice changed, slowed down, or got quiet. That is usually the heart of the story. Use short paragraphs and plain words. Quote the founder exactly, and only with permission. End with a lesson another business owner can use this week.

Record the interview only if the founder agrees, and take notes either way. A recording helps you quote exactly. Afterward, send a thank-you note, whether or not the story is published. Sharing a story is a gift.

What this looks like in different businesses

• Restaurant owner: Ask about the chef or owner who trained them.
• Artist: Ask about a teacher or first collector.
• Travel business owner: Ask about the person who taught them the trade.
• Banker: Ask about a leader who gave them responsibility early.
• Tradesperson: Ask about the person they apprenticed with.
• Family business: Ask about the parent or grandparent who passed down the skills.

Where to share the finished story

Once the founder approves the draft, think about where the story about the people who helped them early will help most. It might fit a blog post, a short video, a newsletter, a staff training session, or a framed page in the lobby. You can also pull one short, approved line for social media. Ask the founder before using the story anywhere new. Keep a copy of their written permission with the final version, so anyone on your team knows what is allowed.

Service before Self in every story

Mentors are a living example of Service before Self. They give their time and wisdom to help someone else grow, often with nothing in return. When you tell these stories, invite readers to become mentors themselves. That is how service spreads from one generation of founders to the next.

Your Next Step This Week

1. Ask a founder about the person who believed in them first.
2. If the helper will be named, get their permission too.
3. Draft the story with the five-part template and end with how the founder passes it on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need permission from the mentor to share the story?

If you name them or share personal details, yes. Otherwise, describe them generally and focus on the founder’s experience.

How do entrepreneurs find mentors?

Founders often meet them through work, community groups, past jobs, or by simply asking someone they admire for advice. Ask founders how they found theirs.

Can a customer be a mentor or early fan?

Yes. Early customers who give honest feedback and tell others can be among a founder’s most important supporters.