What is Mentoring?
There are many definititions of mentoring but we think this best sums it up from our perspective (having been mentors for many many years and having helped people from all walks of life).
We also know, again from personal experience that everyone building a business needs a mentor at some time. We have invested many thousands of dollars in mentors and can say that categorically they have all had a huge impact in the growth of us as people and our business.
What to Look For in a Mentor
This is really really important because if you don’t get it right then you are going to be disappointed. If you don’t communicate what you are looking for then you cannot expect your mentor to help you to get there.
When finding mentors and role models, most people will look to those they feel most comfortable with. These can often be people that are similar to you and reinforce the positive things you already know about yourself.
But you will derive most benefit from mentors who force you to address the uncomfortable sides of your character. That said, a good mentor will never be negative but will offer you “tough love“, pushing you out of your comfort zone and helping you to address areas in a challenging and fulfilling way.
To choose a good mentor, you need to ask yourself uncomfortable questions. Identify people that inspire you and demonstrate the skills, attributes and attitudes that you would like to exhibit in yourself.
Most mentors tend to be more experienced than you and will enjoy passing on their knowledge and wisdom. By gaining their trust you will be in a good position to offer your mentor reciprocal feedback. This is a huge win-win in the relationship.
A good mentor is not someone you will turn to every day. They help set you on a path and come back to you at checkpoints to make sure you are still on course. Give them feedback about how you are progressing and the impact of their advice. This is critical to maintain their interest and give them a sense of what they have helped you to achieve.
A mentor should help the mentee to believe in themself and boost their confidence. A mentor should ask questions and challenge, while providing guidance and encouragement and mentoring allows the mentee to explore new ideas in confidence. It is a chance to look more closely at yourself, your issues, opportunities and what you want in life. Mentoring is about becoming more self aware, taking responsibility for your life and directing your life in the direction you decide, rather than leaving it to chance.
In summary …..
Find someone who has already done what you are trying to do and go from there. That’s what we did when we wanted to start our online business. We sought out who we could see to be the best person to help us and we haven’t looked back – but we have moved on.
Word of caution …. all mentors are not equal. Just like anything else you have to do your own research and due diligence before you make that decision. Certainly the first place to start is recommendation from someone you know and trust.
Just because someone is great at a particular marketing strategy, building a website, designing banners etc doesn’t make them a mentor. It might make them the ideal person to teach you how to do something but that should not be confused with mentoring.
We work with a limited number of people to help them take their online business from where it is now to where they want to be. If you would like to be considered for our mentoring programme please contact us here and tell us a little about yourself and what you want to achieve and we can arrange a call to see if we can work together.
“My chief want in life is someone who shall make me do what I can.” Ralph Emerson
Wishing you all the success you deserve
