What Is A Mentor?

Remember, in addition to your network and community, an invaluable part of your growth can be a mentor.  A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide that shares knowledge and life experiences.  You want a confident mentor who has expertise in the skills you lack. Big names and titles don’t always mean that the person will be a good fit for you as a mentor.  The reality is, good mentors have expertise and/or skills you need to help balance you and take you further.  

Benefits Of Having A Business Mentor

• Access to asking questions and getting solid advice.  Someone who you can consistently rely on being there to listen and give solid advice when needed. 
• A different perspective. A mentor is someone who can look at your business more objectively than you can.
• Improving key skills.  Mentors have expertise and/or skills you need.  
• Methods and strategies.  Mentors can prepare you with numerous methods and strategies that you can pull from throughout your career as a business owner.
• Confidence to make better decisions. They are there to reassure you that you are making the appropriate decisions and give you encouragement.
• Experience not shared in books.  Mentors have hands on experience.  They have seen the ups and downs of Entrepreneurship.  Experience is a very expensive asset, yet it’s crucial to business success. 
• Network opportunities.  By working with a mentor, you can leverage their network and naturally expand your own network.
• Accountability.  Having a mentor will hold you more accountable to meet deadlines, set goals, and push yourself.  
• Increases your Odds of Success.  In a 2013 executive coaching survey, 80 percent of CEOs said they received some form of mentorship.  Mentorship has proven to be instrumental to success.

Key To Finding The Best Mentor

A good mentor will tell you the truth no matter how hard it may be to hear.  I believe the best mentor is one that does it for the pure good of helping others find success and guiding them through situations that they have already encountered.  There are many mentors out there that are happy to do things when there is something in it for them, but the minute they don’t have something to gain, they are nowhere to be seen.  It really boils down to who the core person is.  It’s not to say that there isn’t a need for those who also have an interest for their own gain, but it is important to know the difference between the two.

4 Things To Look For In A Good Mentor

1. They Have Expert-Level Experience –  You can have friends and associates that are in the process of building just as you are, but it is important for your mentor to have a higher level of experience than you. 

2. Proven Success As An Entrepreneur –  Success can be defined in a variety of ways, but the best mentors will have actually walked in your shoes and made it through to the other side.  Also, be aware of when that success was achieved… if your mentor has long since retired, you may need additional guidance on ever-evolving technologies, social media trends, and the like.   

3. Patient and Action-Oriented –  Good mentors may not have a whole lot of free time, but they are typically patient with fellow entrepreneurs and focused when they commit to something.

4. Direct Yet Supportive –  Your mentor should be able to identify mistakes you’re making quickly and let you know in time to fix them and move forward. 

If you’ve had success with a mentor, share your story below with our community! We look forward to hearing how it has benefited you and your business.