Mentorship

The Haddocks believe a mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. In life, there are times to seek advice and times to advise. Gordon has always asked for the opinions of more experienced business people. In his younger days, if he knew he needed someone’s advice, he would even offer to pay for such expertise.

“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before,” J. Loren Norris

Informal mentorship develops naturally, and often the mentor and the mentee know, immediately upon meeting, if they have something to offer or receive.  Certain people are meant to meet. For example, the Haddocks knew both Rauncie Kinnaird and Lorraine Forster. One evening both women were attending a function that the Haddocks were unable to attend. Maureen and Gordon had told each woman to look for the other, at the event. As luck would have it, they met while crossing the street to the event, both pregnant and admiring each other’s boots. The rest is history.

In the gallery, you will find some of Gord and Maureen’s favourite mentorship stories. Once a mentor-mentee relationship is formed, it is often sealed with friendship and, perhaps, partnership.

Lorraine Forster has permitted me to print this quote. She wrote it the way she talks, with energy and enthusiasm. It explains, perfectly, the way life unfolds. One must notice the opportunities and act on them.  

Lorraine writes, “I think the story of mentorship is about giving and receiving. If I had not been obsessed with Brett Wilson, I would not have joined the I3 Challenge, would not have met Gord as a judge, would not have met his amazing Maureen, would not have gained both mentorship and friendship, would not have been put in touch with Rauncie, when Gord and Maureen said ‘you have to meet this really great gal that has so much in common with you,’ and would not have recognized all her marketing and business savvy, or met her Tech wizard, Shelley, and therefore would not have gained Rauncie as a friend. Yes, mentorship is about connecting minds that are alike, yet, interestingly different.”  

In February of 2020, Maureen and Gord Haddock received the Raj Manek Above and Beyond Award for promoting entrepreneurship in the province. Rauncie Kinnaird (photo right) and Shelley Caldwell prepared the nomination unbeknownst to the Haddocks.   

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  Story One

  For many years, the Haddocks have been the guests of Rauncie Kinnaird at the Raj Manek Dinner. The speakers are always inspiring and the conversation at dinner is delightful! Read More

L to R: Maureen, Gordon, and Rauncie at the 2011 Raj Manek Mentorship Banquet.

Story One

In 2006, two worlds intersected.

Gordon and Maureen Haddock sold The Body Shop Saskatchewan stores back to their corporate owners, and Rauncie Kinnaird was about to open a retail store. 



Relationships that slowly evolve into partnerships and friendships are wrapped in the gauzy good feelings that can blur the story of how and where it all began. The Haddock/Kinnaird story illustrates this feeling perfectly.

In 2006, Gordon Haddock told his wife, Maureen, that there was a buyer for the last remaining kiosk from their twenty years in retail with The Body Shop. Rauncie Kinnaird, the buyer, remembers being embarrassed when she discovered that she had ordered the wrong type of truck to access the loading dock. Gord calmly ordered another truck, and while the two waited for it to arrive, he inquired about Rauncie’s business plans. When she mentioned she and her husband would be opening a street-front location for their successful online business, Gord’s retail enthusiasm, and experience, bubbled forth. Rauncie stopped Gord mid-idea and frantically ran to get a pen and paper. Gord admired her enthusiasm.

Before opening her store, Rauncie had done her homework.  She had pursued every business resource available to her in Saskatoon. Among other organizations, she approached the Raj Manek Mentorship Program, applied to be a protégé and asked that Gordon Haddock be her mentor. She was told that Mr. Haddock didn’t mentor. Nothing could have been further from the truth. However, Mr. Haddock had not yet worked with the Raj Manek mentorship program. Rauncie asked if she could approach Gord on behalf of the Raj Manek association. She was encouraged to do so, she did, and he said yes. Regular meetings began. Rauncie started the tradition of inviting Maureen and Gord to the annual Raj Manek banquets, and the three have enjoyed several inspiring annual business dinners together.

Gord said, “The thing about Rauncie was that each time I visited her store, she had already put into place the ideas from the previous week. It is so rewarding when someone you are trying to help actually listens and puts suggestions into practice quickly. Of course, I wanted her to adapt my suggestions and make them fit her product offering. Rauncie was great at doing just that.”

While shopping at Rauncie’s store, Clans Celts and Clover, on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon, Maureen came to know and love Rauncie. Visits to the store were exciting for Maureen because of her Celtic background and because the fixtures had been part of her beloved history with The Body Shop. Rauncie was always willing to show Maureen around, pointing out changes that she had made based on Gord’s input.

Maureen and Gord were involved with Rauncie when she made the painful but necessary decision to step back from retail. Her growing family had to come first. She had a thriving online business but felt a passion for retail that was very familiar to Gord and Maureen. The Haddocks understood the pain of leaving a loved business and the importance of family. They assured Rauncie that there is always another time and another project. It is important to make tough choices when life presents you with challenges.

In 2013, Rauncie began helping Maureen work with web design people to develop further the Get a Bigger Wagon project. Rauncie now distributes books for Trek Publishing, does analytics for Get a Bigger Wagon, answers IT questions, and keeps Maureen up to date on new developments in the tech world. Although this is a tiny part of Rauncie’s busy business life, she has done such a good job mentoring that Maureen said, “In 2015 I realized I had evolved enough, with Rauncie’s guidance, to confidently work with our design company to make the choices and decisions needed to develop a new look for the Trek 2000 Corporation site.”   

This story perfectly illustrates the mentorship idea of giving and receiving and the easy flow of energy and trust that sometimes develops between people. Lives that become happily intertwined are always made richer. Friendship is often the result. 

Rauncie Kinnaird's story has grown so much that we suggest you read this article from Your Saskatoon News, April 2021. It is a great story. 

>http://yoursaskatoonnews.ca/.../rauncie-kinnaird-builds.../

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  Story Two

  Read More

Never mind Maureen's funny face, look at Bryan McCrea's Hair!

Story Two

This story is coming soon!

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  Story Three

  It feels like the Haddocks have known the Forsters, forever, in a good way! It all started with a phone call from Lorraine to Gord. Read More

Maureen Haddock, Lorraine Forster, Lorraine's brother Dan, and Gord Haddock fall 2009.

Story Three

In 2008, Lorraine was looking for mentorship and support in creating a business plan for her new recreational land development company. She was thrilled to learn about the first I3 Idea Challenge with the W. Brett Wilson Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan, and she quickly became involved.

Gordon Haddock was one of the judges for the competition. Lorraine intuitively felt she could approach him for advice, and not long afterward, she phoned him to arrange a meeting.  That phone call started a wonderful mentor-mentee relationship, which has evolved in many ways. 

Lorraine said, “Making the effort to connect through one simple phone call has been an incredible opportunity for both our company and our family. The mentorship and networking opportunities I have received through Gordon, and, later, his wife and business partner, Maureen, have been truly remarkable. Their suggestions have literally transformed our property development projects, providing fresh and unique perspectives, ideas, redirection, and constructive criticism to help us keep focused.”

Gordon Haddock said, “It is gratifying to be listened to and to watch some of your ideas be implemented and even improved upon.”

Older entrepreneurs can stand back and look at the bigger picture so easily. Lorraine said, “Gordon provided advice, grounded in years of business experience.”

Lorraine finds peace of mind in the mentorship relationship. She has mentioned that having more experienced business people in her life counteracts the feeling of isolation that can come from the entrepreneurial way of life. Lorraine believes that along with guidance, mentors often provide the reassurance and encouragement you don’t always get when you work for yourself. 

Lorraine said, “My family is truly blessed to have the Haddocks as part of our support system, and we look forward to many, many more years of continued success together."

Gordon is quick to add that, “Lorraine has many people she can call upon for advice. She is always looking for ways to be better, and she collects relationships. In return, she willingly supports less experienced entrepreneurs, in their search for growth. Life is more interesting when you can share business excitement.”

 

 

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  Story Four

  Michelle Naidu and Maureen Haddock like to have lunch and talk about business, families, education, and life in general. Read More

From Math Teacher to Lingerie Specialist to a new position in Professional Development

Story Four

In the spring of 2012, Maureen Haddock dropped into Change Lingerie in the Lawson Heights Mall. She received exceptional service from a young, enthusiastic clerk who seemed to understand the fitting of lingerie. Maureen raved about the young clerk to the more mature lady at the checkout. Maureen said, "You better keep that young lady...she truly knows her lingerie."  

"Oh, we'll have to keep her. She owns the store," replied the more mature lady, with a wink. Maureen laughed, apologized, and soon learned that the young lady, Michelle Naidu, had shopped in The Body Shops in Saskatchewan and recognized Maureen from years before. 

Not long after this encounter, Maureen received a phone call from the CYBF, now Futurepreneurs, to ask Maureen to consider signing on for a two-year mentorship with Michelle. Michelle and Maureen met in late August, and the relationship that began with an ageist remark became formal in October of 2012.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Change Lingerie Saskatoon134 Primrose Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 5S6 · Swimwear

 

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