The Importance of a Mentor

As you create time to be an entrepreneur, you will want a mentor on your side. Mentors help guide you and push you towards accomplishing your goals. A good mentor will help make the entrepreneurial journey more satisfying, which ultimately leads to greater success. It is important to admit that while you may be able to wear multiple hats to get your business going, you do not know everything and will always need guidance and encouragement.

There are many benefits that you will gain from finding a quality mentor:

• Encouragement: When the going gets tough, they often know what to say and do, since they have usually encountered the same problems.
• Experience: You will be able to learn from their years of experience, particularly their mistakes.
• Network: Your mentor will have a network that they can connect you with when you need specific help in an area.
• Accountability: They will be holding you accountable for your goals.
• Personal development: They can point you in the right direction to fill your knowledge gaps.

It is important to note that having more than one mentor is completely possible and often advisable. Sometimes you will find someone you think will be a great mentor, and then you just do not mesh or do not have enough time to really meet. You may also outgrow a mentor or a shift in your business model may require a change.

It is your responsibility to find your mentor. Therefore, always put in quality time when looking for a mentor:

• Find someone who you look up to and want to be like: You want to make sure that the person has been down a similar road to your potential path. Look at the person’s social media, website, and blog so that you are familiar with them.
• Do not be afraid to let people know you are actively looking: It is important to look at your own network. Your friends and family members can be a valuable resource in your search. Often, they have unexpected connections that may help you on your journey.
• Create a list of questions that will help you discover if the mentor is the right fit for you: It is important to be prepared when searching for a mentor. When you ask your possible mentor questions, it is also important for you to let them know what direction you are going, why you would like a mentor, and how you see your mentor relationship progressing.
  • Here is a list of questions to ask a mentor to get you started:
    • If you were to go through the entrepreneurial process again, what would you do differently?
    • What have you learned from your biggest failure?
    • What is the one thing you attribute your success to?
    • How do you create and track your goals?
    • What does your typical day look like?
    • How would you recommend I start?
    • Do you have constructive feedback for me?
    • Where does your passion lie?
    • Are you interested in giving back by mentoring someone like me?
    • Do you have the time to be an effective mentor?
  • Look for someone who can give you honest feedback and caring: You want someone who is genuinely interested in your success enough to give you honest feedback, even if it stings.

I would also like to note that I would highly recommend becoming a mentor when you can as well. Helping others stand on your shoulders is one of the best feelings I know. I always learn a new perspective from those I mentor. This new vision helps me see beyond the horizon and allows me to change roles from teacher to student while showing my mentee the value gained and the joy derived from helping others. I’ve also found that their energy reinvigorates me.

Lastly, if you want more guidance on starting a business, you can purchase Entrepreneur Rx on my website and follow me on LinkedIn for more tips.