No one can go it alone in life, especially if you’re an entrepreneur. Though it may be tempting to be self-reliant—after all, you have to be self-motivated to succeed as an entrepreneur—excessive self-reliance can be detrimental. You don’t have all the knowledge in the world, neither the experience. Finding a source of both is indispensable to your success.
That’s exactly where mentors fit into the equation. Mentors are a godsend to entrepreneurs and freelancers since they can show them the ropes. They’ve already had success and failures in the business world, and they’re eager to share what they’ve learned with a younger generation that’s just starting out. In short, having a mentor can do wonders for entrepreneurs.
Here’s how to find mentors and also what you can learn from them.
What You Want from a Mentor
Unfortunately, you can’t just find a mentor in one, fell swoop. Fortunately, though, there are lots of ways you can make headway toward finding the prefect mentor.
Begin by knowing what you want in a mentor. Ask yourself all-important questions such as:
- Do I want help with a particular business-related challenge like getting a raise or dressing like a professional?
- Do I need someone who can be an advocate for a project?
- Do you want a mentor who is more of a big-picture guide?
Steps for Finding Mentors
Outside a traditional office setting, you can find mentors in all sorts of places you may not immediately think of, such as organizations or associations that you’re part of, activities you take part in, and even among your relatives and neighbors.
Even performing an Advanced People Search on LinkedIn can work wonders. This search lets you connect with people who went to the same university as you did, which can lead to obtaining mentors in your industry.
Also, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t be overly formal when approaching a mentor, once you’ve located him or her. Instead, do away with worries and intrepidly approach your mentor to ask for specific advice on one, particular issue, right off the bat. To accomplish this, practice efficient and pithy ways of communicating with your mentor, such as an elevator speech or a “why-me” speech.
Benefits of Having a Mentor
The benefits of having a mentor advise and guide you are plenty. From a pure, career perspective, a mentor can help you with your resume, point you in the right direction to influential people in your industry, and provide you with helpful insights on pivotal decisions. When it comes to building professional relationships, mentors are invaluable as well. Mentors can provide access to leaders to whom you don’t have access. This can obviously lead to a plethora of career opportunities as budding leaders and innovators are put in touch with people who can make things happen for them.
Find That Mentor!
Finding a mentor isn’t something that lends itself to a formal approach. Rather, it’s wise to identify your would-be mentor, research him or her, and then start approaching him or her with a question for advice on a particular issue. This can kick off a potential mentor-mentee relationship that’ll have implications for months and years to come.
Remember that entrepreneurs and freelancers can’t make it alone, yet we all know how tempting it is for them to get caught up in that “aloneness” mentality due to the independence and freedom of being one’s own boss. Finding and landing a mentor is the perfect solution to this problem, so go out there and find your very inspiring mentor today!
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