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How do I find a passionate and purposeful mentor?
| Guest post by: Trent Leyshan |
Article Overview: Working with a mentor is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself in business. Being able to share your fears and frustrations, desires and aspirations with someone you trust and respect, in a safe environment, is invaluable. I only have one rule of thumb when it comes to working with a mentor: choose them wisely!
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Free Download - Find fear before it finds you By Trent Leyshan |
How do I find a passionate and purposeful mentor?
Working with a mentor is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself in business.
Being able to share your fears and frustrations, desires and aspirations with someone you trust and respect, in a safe environment, is invaluable. I only have one rule of thumb when it comes to working with a mentor: choose them wisely!
Over the years I've had several mentors; some good and others not so. The mentors, who haven't contributed value, have always been wolves in sheep clothing. I met a couple of wolves in my earlier years that not only gave me bad advice, but when the going got tough, they got going! Demonstrating they were in it for the wrong reasons.
No matter what you've been through or will go through in future, I can guarantee someone else has gone there before you. A good mentor has been there. The will also help you navigate the murky fog and offer practical advice to help you get towards your destination.
A mentor can be utilised to develop most areas in business, particularly ones that aren't your strengths, i.e. finances, leadership, entrepreneurialism, motivation or sales, to name a few.
You dont have to catch up with your mentor in person every week, you can meet via phone or Skype once a month or every quarter, whatever works for you both. Or it can be on an ad hoc basis for areas you need help with on the fly. Just remember a good mentor is in demand so dont abuse their generosity or time. And always offer to help them in some way in return.
What's in it for the mentor?
Most successful people just get a buzz from helping others. Perhaps you remind them of themselves in their early journey. Mabye they just like you and your vision. Many successful people love sharing their journeys and passing on vital lessons and wisdom to others. You would be surprised at how many good and willing mentors are out there that never get asked for help. So ask! You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Where do you find a good mentor? They are all around us. It could be a client. A friend of a friend? Perhaps a father in law? Your Mother? Someone you respect and trust? Or maybe it's a person who is where you want to be life? For me personally mentors have always materialised through people that I know and trust, making them a safer bet.
Always be wary of wolves and false prophets. Working with a mentor that you dont know very well can be fraught with danger, so proceed slowly and cautiously.
In my experience many successful mentors are older, but that's not always the case. And not all successful people are good mentors, that will depend on their natural instinct for coaching.
Working with a good mentor shouldn't cost you more than a coffee or the odd lunch here and there... but if you find the right mentor that small investment could pay off big time!
Finding the Right Mentor
Why Small Business Entrepreneurs Need a Mentor
How to Find the Best Mentor for Your Needs
How To Effectively Use Business Mentoring
The Success of a Mentee Is a Mentor’s Ultimate Reward
Business Mentoring Programs
Smart Women Know What They Want
Empathy Means Not Going It Alone
Mentors – Do you have one?
Start With Passion!
Mentoring - It’s All Greek to Me!
Why Having a Mentor is so Important for Your Business
The Power and Profit of Mentorship
Q&A - Problem with a mentor
Do you have a mentor
Mentors Make Magic in Your Life
Do you need a mentor?
Why You Need a Mentor
The “Mentor for Life”™ Concept and Why it Works
Get Yourself a Mentor
Article Tags: sales training
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About the Author: Trent Leyshan RSS for Trent's articles - Visit Trent's website Trent Leyshan is founder, CEO of BOOM! A leading international sales training company that specialises in the development of inspirational sales cultures, leaders and salespeople. Early in his career Trent was head tradeshow spruiker and sales manager for Australia's most flamboyant TV salesman, Big Kev. He has since driven two of his own companies from lounge room operations into market leaders. And led sales teams in leading new media and advertising agencies. Trent is a sought after expert and facilitator on sales performance and strategy. He is the Author of sales book, The Naked Salesman: How to walk the talk and sell your way to success! BOOM! develops sales training strategies and delivers inspiring learning experiences for some of the world's most successful and demanding sales driven organisations. Empowering them with modern skills and tools to effectively engage with customers and build stronger and more valuable relationships.
Click here to visit Trent's website   How can I find an independant sales rep Is a great product and service enough to succeed My Sales team arent getting along am I doing anything wrong What approach should I take when cold calling Are you in a BS Business |
Related Forum Posts
Do you have a Mentor?
- I have had mentor/mentee relationships throughout my academic and work career. As an entrepreneur I've yet to find a good match for a mentor in my field of business but am always on the lookout.
I was wondering for all the young entrepreneurs out there; do you have a mentor?
Re: Has a coach helped you?
- [quote="OmnivoreInk":1rrrl97v]And is a coach different than a mentor?
I don't really feel I need a coach... anything I need to know how to do I just find a book and read up on it.
I would like to find someone to give me a quick and inexpensive lesson on content management systems (yes...I publish ezines without using a content management system!), but that's not the same thing, eh?[/quote:1rrrl97v]
Great question about the difference between a coach and a mentor, and you'll probably hear many different opinions on this. For me this main difference is that a mentor has been there and done it and can tell/show you how to do it. A coach is trained and skilled in helping you to find the best way to achieve something perhaps through challenging your thoughts and beliefs, goal setting, accountability, brainstorming ideas, seeing and holding the bigger picture for you.
As for learning more about content management systems, I'd say you need someone experienced with that specifically.
Tell me more about what you want to learn and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction.
Wendy
Re: On Mentors
- [quote="jvprosperity":2v0r5y3z]I've been blessed by having mentors naturally come into my life but if I wanted to approach one how would I go about developing the relationship and then asking them to mentor me?[/quote:2v0r5y3z]
Hi Andy,
From my past experiences, I find that mentors just gradually take you under their wing. I've never had to formally ask any of them to "mentor" me.
For example, in "The Little Black Book of Connections", Jeffrey Gitomer says "Some of them actually want to help you and will take pleasure in helping you, as long as they feel you are both worthy and trustworthy. In other words, deserving" (pg 9). At the end of the day, the best way to get a mentor is to nurture your connections through mutual value exchange.
The Value of Mentoring
- Successful mentor pairings (in case there was any doubt as to the value of mentoring):
1. André Ouellet (President, Canada Post) mentor to Mark Whalen (Urban Organics and winner, Young Entrepreneur Award)
2. Marc Lefrançois (President, Via Rail Canada) mentor to Jeffrey Campbell (Core Networks, Inc. and winner, Young Entrepreneur Award)
3. Donald Kendall (former CEO of PepsiCo) mentor to John Scully (former CEO of Apple)
4. Harland Sanders (the Colonel) mentor to Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's)
5. Stuart Friend (KMart manager) mentor to Wayne Sales (CEO of Canadian Tire)
6. Jim Rohn (author, motivational speaker) mentor to Anthony Robbins (author, motivational speaker)
7. Robert Patterson (CEO, National Cash Register) mentor to Thomas Watson (founder of IBM)
8. Henri-Paul Rosseau (President, Laurentian Bank of Canada) mentor to isabel Rodriquez and Yves Besner (i4design and winners, Young Entrepreneur Award)
Go out and get a mentor
- This thread hasn't been discussed for about two months, and I'm surprised because it seems like excellent advice.
Most people just starting out in business need a mentor - whether it's one or both of their parents who've run businesses of their own, a teacher or college professor, or even just a friend.
Even if a person doesn't need help with the busness aspects, they might need to learn how to handle money - if they've never had a lot before, how to handle people, etc.
So everyone should look for a mentor - someone who wants to be a mentor, of course!
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