🎓 Modern day mentoring | Questions for Michelle Donelan

Welcome to the 14 new subscribers since our last email, if you are new here, my name is Jimmy McLoughlin, a former Downing Street adviser turned podcaster. I write this notebook on the most interesting things I have seen on the future of work, jobs, technology and politics.

🎓 How to get a modern day mentor 

❓ Questions for Michelle Donelan

🏃‍♂️ The business of running 

💰 Budget reaction video

💥 Rest is Politics

Before we get cracking today, I just wanted to thank Ashore who are bringing you todays notebook. Ashore is the platform for booking stays in the UK's best and most beautiful remote-work homes.

When it comes to hybrid-working, you probably think of working from home, part-time at the office, or maybe a co-working space.

Ashore offers a new option: remote-work stays in homes located in some of the most beautiful towns and villages in the UK - from Margate, to Skye, to Hay-on-Wye.

Every home has at least one best in class workspace with 4k monitors, Herman Miller chairs, and verified internet. It is founded by my former colleague from when in Government, but still friend, Aled Maclean Jones.

It really is worth clicking on the link to have a marvel at some of the gorgeous properties.  

🎓 How to get a modern day mentor 

I was asked at a school the other day about how to go about mentoring, I thought I would jot down a few thoughts on how to do it, and how it has changed.

Finding a mentor can be the biggest cheat code in your early (and come to think of it mid stage) career - but how do you go about doing it?  

Here are some tips:

Identify what you want to achieve in your career. Are you looking to develop a specific skill set, break into a new industry, or grow your network? You may not know, particularly early on, so the best thing can be too 👇 

Look for mentors who you admire. When I left No.10 I wrote down a list of people who I admired and wrote to them, such as people like Oli Barrett and Danny Finkelstein.  You can use traditional methods like networking events. But of course, you can use social media and it gives you direct access. I mentored Joe Seddon from Zero Gravity helping underprivileged kids apply to University, we didn’t meet in person for the first year (although frankly I wonder who was learning the most from our sessions).

Reach out and make a connection. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or guidance. BUT the best people will be busy, so personalise your pitch, try to find a mutual reference. Loads of people have written articles or appeared on podcasts, reference those. 

Pip Jamieson talked on Jimmys Jobs about how when failing to get female mentors, she approached men who had daughters and used this as a hook. 

Mentors can also provide something more intangible: inspiration. Seeing someone who has achieved success in your chosen field or possesses the skills you want to acquire can be a powerful motivator and you’ll probably realise it wasn’t all easy, and nor were they crushing through everything the whole time. 

So, how does a mentor relationship work? Well it doesn’t need to be structured monthly. I have a number of people that I turn to depending on the challenge. You can think of it is more of a personal advisory board that you can go for the accumulation of their knowledge and therefore stopping you making common mistakes. 

Finally, it's worth noting that the traditional mentor is no longer a 50+ executive. With the rise of young entrepreneurs and the flex economy, mentoring relationships can come from anywhere. Don't limit yourself to seeking out mentors who fit a certain mold; the most valuable mentorship can come from unexpected sources. 

You can always look at the people around the people you admire as well, the LinkedIn ‘people also viewed’ is a treasure trove. For example, you might want to be the next Ben Francis, look at his LinkedIn profile and see the ‘people also viewed’ section, and look at their careers. You can also then look at those individuals and look at their ‘people also viewed’ section. 

In short, finding a mentor can be one of the best things you can do for your career. By identifying your goals, seeking out the right mentors, and being open to learning from others, you can propel yourself forward. 

And they’ll probably learn quite a lot from you. 

❓ Questions for Michelle Donelan

I have lots lined up for Michelle who is the Secretary of State for Science and Technology, including being one of the youngest ever serving Cabinet Ministers, and who had a spell in at World Wrestling Entertainment before politics. 

Particular appreciation for quick fires suggestions, currently I have:

1. Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin

2. What do you think The Rock actually cooking?

3. What has more drama, PMQs or Wrestlemania …

You can probably see why the team is quite keen we crowdsource some questions :) just hit reply to this email.  

🏃‍♂️ The business of running 

I became a big runner in lockdown, I have found it a time efficient way to exercise with kids (the nursery run has become literal for me). Here are my 2023 targets.

Although I have never taken on a marathon before and am in awe of those that do. With the London marathon just a few weeks away, I wanted to highlight some names from the world of business taking on the challenge, first up, Richard Fletcher, Business Editor of The Times running for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Richard Fletcher @fletcherr

Longest training run done … I am running the London Marathon with my friend Simon Coleman to raise money for @GreatOrmondSt Hospital who treated Simon’s daughter when her kidney’s failed. You can read more about her extraordinary story here - 2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/simon-colem…

Do get in touch with more names who are running

💰 Budget reaction video

First one made of me doing a piece to camera at home, would love your thoughts.

And my personal take:

Jimmy McLoughlin 🐑🇺🇦 @jimmym

Just think of every parent who has said recently: 'But, I just don't think we can afford any more children, darling' Some interesting conversations over dinner tonight 🤣🤣

💥 Rest is Politics

Sometimes the Rest in Politics can feel like its just Alastair Campbell railroading Rory for everything that is wrong in Britain.

Well Stewart did not hold back on Iraq … he said politicians were and are too deferential to the military and security services.

My old No.10 colleague, James Johnson captures the first time Stewart swears in over 120 hours of recordings so far.

For foreign affairs analysis, the podcast is in a whole different league, it will be fascinating to hear what they make of the situation in France.

James Johnson @jamesjohnson252

The @RestIsPolitics episode on The Iraq War is brilliant. spotify.link/ZqcDgSLmmyb

✍️ This notebook is not possible without …

It is the most common question I get asked on when I tell people that I am a podcaster is, ‘how do you make money?’.

Well it is possible thanks to our various partners.

If you want to reach some of the UK’s most influential people, whether they be FTSE CEOs, the UK’s fastest growing entrepreneurs, editors of national newspapers and or Cabinet Ministers… including now several former Chancellors.

We are exploring future mini series on AI impact on jobs, future of the office, the creator economy.

Then check out some of the different innovative models we have at https://www.jobsofthefuture.co/partnerships

And check out the website, the hub for everything Jimmy’s Jobs

jobsofthefuture.co

Follow our socials below:

YouTube LinkedIn Twitter TikTok Instagram Apple Podcasts