The transition from a successful career as a United States Secret Service agent to the world of business entrepreneurship was a revolutionary change for me, but there are surprising similarities in these professions. Risk-taking actions are everyday occurrences for government agents.

Similarly, the uncertainties encountered in today's business world, from cultivating new opportunities to participating in large-scale efforts, weigh heavily on many entrepreneurs. How does a promising company minimize the credibility gap while maximizing the level of success?

New companies endure many challenges to build credibility and develop empowerment. To participate in the American economic mainstream, emerging business enterprises must overcome the challenges of capital resources, profit improvement, consistent opportunity streams and high-performance service. It may be more than one person can take on alone.

Entrepreneurs may look to a mentor as one source of assistance in overcoming the hurdles of modern business. Mentoring relationships help foster risk-tolerance in innovative individuals, so entrepreneurial spirit and ability become the primary focus. This unique one-on-one relationship is meaningful, productive and mutually beneficial.

Forming mentor-protégé teams offers the better of business-to-business worlds by combining the resources, stability and tested experience of a large, established business with the innovation, focus and energy of a small, emerging business. Businesses are now collaborating, and are using their networks as a resource. In today's competitive business environment, collaboration is key to the successful expansion of market share.

Mentor-protégé relationships contribute to long-term success by allowing entrepreneurs to temper their spirit and energy with the guidance of an experienced mentor. This permits true development of the protégé and fosters success in his/her business ventures. The mentor works with the protégé to set career and personal objectives, and create sound strategies for the future. In addition, the mentor provides opportunities for gaining knowledge, skills and competence.

Mentoring will be increasingly significant as new entrepreneurs prepare to meet new complexities, shortened decision cycles and increased customer demands. Although new technologies provide unprecedented support, the ability to think critically, analyze, synchronize and synthesize all higher-level skills is imperative to success. Having a trusted mentor who can challenge protégés to think strategically by virtue of their knowledge, network of resources and sound, objective advice is more important than ever. These skills must still be coupled with the ability to lead and operate independently in flattened networks and organizations.

Perhaps more art than science, mentoring is about both participants growing. It is not a solo performance. To be effective and enduring, it must accomplish a two-way synchronized effort grounded in a true partnership philosophy. The agenda comes from the protégé, not the mentor. Mentors who meet these criteria are not threatened by their protégés' potential to equal or surpass them. That should be their goal. Mentors play an influential role in helping their protégés help themselves to succeed. In this new generation of business enterprise, mentor-protégé relationships are viable strategic alliances to leverage and establish a dynamic business presence.