Young people in particular benefit from the experience and knowledge of a mentor. The purpose for having a mentor is learning. You can learn more, faster from someone who has been where you are and has experience that you do not yet have.
Here are 10 reasons to have mentor:
1. Perspective and experience. A mentor can give you the benefit of his or her perspective and experience. He or she can help you assimilate to a new position and give you an insider’s view on how to get things done.
2. Think outside the box. A mentor can help you look at situations in new ways. He or she can ask hard questions and help you solve problems. They can help you gain a level of self-awareness that you can’t get on your own and develop emotional intelligence with regard to business. A mentor can help you challenge your limiting beliefs in ways you can’t do on your own.
3. Define and reach long-term goals. A mentor can help you define your career path and ensure that you don’t lose focus and continue down that road even when you become distracted by day-to-day pressures. You always have to look at where you are going and how you are trying to develop yourself. Mentors can help you set smart, realistic, future-oriented goals.
4. Accountability. When you know you are meeting with your mentor, you ensure that all the tasks you discussed in your last meeting are completed. A mentor brings accountability which develops responsibility. This can cause you to strive for achievements you previously thought were impossible.
5. Trusted person to discuss ideas and issues with. A mentor can be a great sounding board for all issues, whether you are having difficulty with a business decision, an ethical dilemma, or need advice on how to tackle a project.
6. Champion and ally. A mentor who knows you well can be a strong champion of your positive attributes and an ally during any bumpy spots when building your business.
7. Expand your contacts and network. A mentor can help expand your network of contacts and business acquaintances.
8. Open doors. A mentor can open doors for you and introduce you to people and organizations that you might not be able to access on your own.
9. Inspire. A mentor whose work you admire can be a strong inspiration .
10. Work better. With the help of a good mentor, you can work more efficiently with a clearer view of the future you are trying to achieve. This helps you feel more confident which leads to better work performance and more success in your chosen business.
Do you remember in the lesson on Building Your Dream Team we discussed how to approach people to be on your dream team and how to ask for help? When you find someone that you would like to be your mentor, be sure to communicate your vision with clarity and with the passion that you have for your mission and be specific with what you want from a mentor.
You can find mentors in many places. Could there be someone in your family who is a business person that you trust and feel safe confiding in? Is there a teacher in your school who teaches business or entrepreneurship? Perhaps you could give a presentation at the local Chamber of Commerce or some other group like Kiwanis or Lions Club.
Use your imagination, tap into your courage and just go for it. The worst that can happen is the person you ask may say no. After asking why they can’t help you, find someone else to ask.
Good luck.
