The three wise Ms – mindset, mindfulness and mentoring

Jo Mitchell Long is inspiring and guiding creatives with her design experience and business knowledge. “Break through what is holding you back and build the success you deserve,” is a phrase on Jo’s mentoring homepage, Jo Mitchell Mentoring. Her multi-hyphenate of creative roles also includes being a mentor on London College of Communication’s Industry Mentoring Programme. Having worked for nearly two decades in the creative industry, Jo speaks about her mindset and mentoring work.  

Jo is based in Surrey and studied BA Graphic Design at LCC over 15 years ago. After working in graphic design and art direction she founded her own mentoring business in 2017. Aimed at “Freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to connect, launch or grow a business,” she says its purpose is to “fill the gap of those who have little to no work experience and want to develop themselves to get into the industry quicker.” 

LCC’s mentoring programme for postgraduates helps the transition from education to starting a professional career. Having one-to-one sessions ensures that students have tailored assistance through hand-picked experienced advisors. Mentors are enthusiastic about creativity and the industry so are keen to support upcoming talent like LCC graduates.

These industry professionals are committed to navigating graduates through the tense and exciting period of establishing a new career. And with the knowledge and understanding of her own mentoring platform, Jo is more than qualified to help. 

In Jo’s office, the walls are adorned with craft objects and illustrations. Her positive aura makes it clear she wants to support and encourage whoever she meets. When asked if there was a scheme similar to this when she was at university, and whether she would opt to join, Jo says she would “jump at the chance”.  

“If you’ve already been challenged you’ve got those resources and tools in your kit” 

“We didn’t have anything like that when I was there. There was a bit of a culture shock for me [on entering the industry]. I knew I had to prepare for rejection, but I thought ‘I’ve done my years at university, I’m going to have this amazing job’.” Although courses aim to equip students with the tools to enter the workplace, mentors offer exclusive navigation to deal with rejection and provide reassurance. 

After discussing her practice, Jo reveals that personal and professional challenges have influenced where she is now. “I think if you’ve already been challenged you’ve got those resources and those tools in your kit.” 

The openness and awareness central to Jo’s outlook was crucial to understanding her key to progression – mindset. She emulates American psychologist Carol Dweck’s growth mindset belief: “[Mentees] have to be really switched on. It’s a team effort between the two of us. You’ve got to know what you want out of it.” 

With Jo, passion and mindset are recurring themes – and the ability to do what you love can only happen if you really want it to. These are similar principles to her Dib Dab Art Club, Jo’s art classes for young children, and her premise for mentoring: providing an environment for building creativity and removing the pressures of having right or wrong responses, to focus on what works for yourself.  

Mentoring is a gateway to both mentor and mentee discovering more about themselves, how they work and their career outlook. In the same sense that when we learn to ride a bike, we need some guidance and encouragement. Then with grit and determination, we’re soon flying down park paths enjoying ourselves!  

“I still feel as fresh and connected to the industry and creativity as I did when I graduated,” says Jo. “There are the likes of Vivienne Westwood who can live a life consumed by their passion and still be doing amazing stuff in their 80s. I don’t want to retire! You can do what you do forever!” It’s important to remember that a mentor isn’t just there to give instructions like a recipe book for success. There has to be a desire and an interest in progressing from both parties.  

Recognising our skills and niches, discovering new interests, and being more invested in our passion are things we can utilise for our careers. Jo speaks with enthusiasm and joy about finding that passion and letting it direct your career path: “From a professional point of view you need to draw on your personal experience. That’s helped me, it’s what you need to move forward.” 

She has a bulk of knowledge to direct those in beginner positions and knows that things don’t run smoothly all of the time. Mistakes have to be made to learn about who we are and help us to endure mundane or difficult situations.  

Getting experience in the creative industry is similar to the process of getting credit. You need credit and a good score to be accepted for credit, but you need a credit card to build and bump up your own rating. 

For postgraduates, mentoring can act as a credit-building card – improving your practice, building on your skills and personality, and preparing for the workplace. When facing a frustrating time, despair and the temptation to sink into idleness can happen. Then somehow, things work out. And having a mentor can be the solution. 

Finding someone willing to invest in your journey rather than merely telling you what to do – someone not on a mission to simply make a ‘mini-me’, but a flourishing independent creative who believes in themselves – is a rare find in this industry. But Jo encourages her mentees to “Be passionate, believe in yourself, because you’ve got to be able to sell yourself. If you don’t think you’re amazing and brilliant, no one else is going to.” 

For more info, visit Jo’s website.

Feature image by Claire Naylor (@claire_naylor_photography)