I set up an introductory lunch for two entrepreneurs in the same industry. I’ve been trying to make this happen for months, and I’m glad that this week, it finally did. One of these entrepreneurs is seasoned, with deep relationships and wisdom accumulated from years of experience and learning about the experiences of others. The other is new to the industry; he’s had early successes and is trying to build upon them to scale.

The lunch was a success. My being there as a trusted party helped each of them build trust with the other. The seasoned entrepreneur readily answered all questions and was transparent. He shared details about lessons learned from painful failures and explained how changing market conditions led to the strategy he’s pursuing going forward. He gave comprehensive answers to questions about the ways he overcame hurdles the newbie is facing now. He also shared his best-kept secrets, including tools he uses to access hard-to-find information.

After the meeting, the newer entrepreneur told me that the things he learned during that lunch will save him months of time and considerable money. Before, he was unsure how to overcome certain hurdles. He now knows exactly what to do and not do and the people to call for help in specific areas. He left confident and excited. If he gets stuck, he now has someone credible he can call who’s been in his shoes and who’s willing to help.

Meetings like this are important, especially for newer entrepreneurs. They can completely change an entrepreneur’s trajectory. I’m excited for both of these people and can’t wait to see what they do. As the newbie becomes more successful, I hope he pays it forward and shares what he learns with the entrepreneurs who come after him.