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The most notable business leaders of this world all have mentors and adhere to a code of behaviour.

The next generation of Jamaican business leaders are making their presence felt. We see them in the news, we hear their declarations, some of them trumpet their ambitions.

Their predecessors have left a blueprint and there is much that can be emulated for those who are more discerning. These seasoned leaders’ advice should be sort.

Today in Jamaica, everywhere you go, young professionals tell you about their determination to acquire a Mercedes, a Porsche, an Audi, a Range Rover. There are those who want a holiday home in Miami, New York, London, The Cayman Islands. Many want their own jet and their very own skybox at Jamaica’s “Stushest” events.

That’s all very well but do you have the wherewithal to be a business leader? Are you made of the ‘right stuff’? Do you operate from a defined framework which govern your actions?

Jamaica has produced many fine business leaders and some of the greatest are beginning to pass on.

It cannot be said that they took the time to be mentors and pass on what they have learnt and garnered on their journey.

In the twenty-first century, the digital age, many young business leaders like the sheen and trappings of success but shy away from the graft and the sense of decorum required to be revered.

They need mentors.

Alexander the Great is still regarded as the greatest military leader and transformer of worlds earth has every seen. His mentor was Aristotle, his childhood tutor.

Facebook and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg had Apple’s Steve Jobs.

Warren Buffett sort out Benjamin Graham as his mentor.

Richard Branson started Virgin Airlines and Sir Freddie Laker proved to be a fantastic mentor.

Bill Gates credits Warren Buffett as his mentor.

One would be hard pressed to find veteran business leaders in Jamaica today that put themselves out there as a mentor willing to share their time and experiences.

NCB’s chairman Michael Lee Chin has taken that mantle and is actively out there serving as a mentor. Listening to him, there is a lot one can learn and apply to their ventures.

Many are perishing by artifice and sophistry – pretending they are the real deal- fake it till you make it.

They have failed to buy into a framework. They have opted not to follow a blueprint.

Richard Branson speaking to a British media outlet once said: “ It’s always good to have a helping hand at the start. I wouldn’t have got anywhere in the airline business without the mentorship of Sir Freddie Laker. Now I love mentoring young entrepreneurs. As American author and businessman Zig Zigler said: “ A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could”. Find a mentor.”

What the next generation need to heed is that no entrepreneur is willing to put their reputation on the line for someone with questionable behaviour. Seek out people who have been through the highs and lows of business, they can guide and advise you.

What Lee Chin is doing now is a form of national service, something his contemporaries here in Jamaica should join him in.

Many need the recipe and it should be graciously given. What’s the point of taking it to the grave with you? It serves no purpose being buried six feet under. Best put it to good use.

Here are some observations from Lee Chin we can all benefit from. Young guns, get your notebooks out or if you are so inclined, take a shot on your phone.

1. “ Remember you don’t have to meet your role model in person for them to impact your life profoundly. Warren Buffett was my mentor long before I ever met him. I studied him. In today’s interconnected world, your village is vast and likely full of inspiration at every corner”.
2. “What makes a successful entrepreneur? They must be aspirational. They make no little plans. They have an enduring value system, a sound intellectual framework and prevent emotion from corroding their framework. They understand that persevering is a precondition of success.”
3. I often get asked about my framework for success. Here is what I believe:
4. Find a role model
5. Get the recipe
6. Do not change the recipe.

You can only change the recipe if you have exceeded the role model.”

4. Entrepreneurs must be risk-takers. Ships are safest in harbours, but they are not meant to be there. They have to sail long and hard and face many stormy seas to reach the comfort of a desirable destination. Progress requires that you take calculated risks and make bold moves.”
5. “Deep pockets might open doors, but it’s creativity that builds empires. In a complex world, innovative thinking trumps financial might every time. Let’s prioritise genuine value and lasting solutions and substitute the deep pockets for creativity.”
6. “ You must look like a money person for clients to trust you.”

7.Gold is a commodity, over the long run as we look back it has not been a good investment. You can’t look at the intrinsic value of gold as you can a business. Gold doesn’t give you cash flow and at the end of the day, cash flow is what is important. Gold doesn’t give you dividends.”

8. “ The mantra of the National Commercial Bank is building Jamaica. If this bank is going to be everlasting successful it has to take on the ailments of this society.”
9. I didn’t generate my success by being a prognosticator. I developed my reputation building our businesses by building great businesses and making them more efficient.”
10. “ Success is not about how much money you make but about how many lives you impact.”
11. “ I started as a financial planner, so when I got into managing money, I had no direct experience with stock selection for mutual funds. When I bought the bank in 2002, I had no experience turning around a bank. There are many character traits I would take in place of experience.”

Watch Lee-Chin’s presentation below: