Finding the Right Mentor

Lots of blogs for entrepreneurs say that having a mentor is important to succeed in life. It sounds great, but in reality, it can be tough to find one.

Mentors are a rare find, which is why the question “why” often arises.

We all tend to believe our ideas are special and one-of-a-kind, leading us to protect them. Even if we search online for similar tales, we rarely stumble upon an exact match. Hence, we hesitate, waiting for the perfect moment to unveil our brilliance.

Choosing friends and building relationships may mirror our approach to selecting companions. While friends may come and go, family remains constant. However, the mentor we aspire to connect with combines the rationality and directness of a friend with the support and emotional connection of family, making them truly unique and valuable.

Wooh, back up there hombré, run that by me again!

Have you ever had a brilliant idea buzzing in your mind, just waiting to be turned into a money-making venture? You’ve devoured countless books and explored every conceivable opportunity, yet you find yourself hesitating to take that crucial next leap.

You went as far as consulting your closest friends, and their opinion is quite skeptical: “Stick to your current job for better security rather than pursuing a foolish idea! Stay on the safe path to avoid ending up with nothing. Heck, you might even fail! Who wants that? Failure is for those who lack success!” Hearing their thoughts has left you questioning your own idea.

You sought opinions from your family, perhaps even approaching them first, regarding your ambitious ideas. They were relatively courteous, yet shared a common view: “What! I invested in your education, and now you want to abandon it for a frivolous notion! Stick to your job, dear, don’t disrupt the status quo. Just keep receiving your regular paycheck! Losing your retirement benefits wouldn’t be wise, would it?“

That’s just Mum and Dad, always concerned about their, uh, I mean your future. They don’t want you to fail. It’s possible they perceive their own lives as failures and want to ensure you don’t experience the same. After hearing their perspectives, you’re now beginning to question your idea.

So you embarked on a search for someone knowledgeable in your area of interest, but encountered individuals who were more interested in stealing your idea. So, you turned to online forums and left comments in the journals of admired entrepreneurs who faced criticism with resilience and maintained a positive attitude. Finally, you found someone who could potentially bring your project to life, bridging the gap from paperwork to the digital world. However, now you find yourself questioning your idea.

After exploring all options, you opt to leave a message on their forum and journal, and even come up with a clever message.

Hey, man! You really motivate me, ya know? I dig what you say. Can you check out my blog sometime? It’d mean a lot.!

Sigh. Idiot. Let’s try that again, this time with finesse….

@Mentor.
I’ve been lurking on your site for about six months, reading your journal. I say lurking because I have been too afraid to say something that might be silly and stupid. But all the time, I have thought – this guy knows what I am thinking, he is writing about the things that matter most to me – and today I finally got the nerve to say it: Your posts give me a tingle up my spine each time I read them! I not only read the words, I hear them, I understand, I absorb the information – and I use them to my full advantage.
Today I hope you can give an answer to a few of my questions. You appeared well knowledge in so many areas, I hope you can help me with these ideas I have:

1 – 5. List your questions in dot-point format, simple and short. Don’t try to answer your questions – give your new-found mentor first opportunity.

I believe you can advise me and give me the next path in my journey. From an admirer, student and reader,
Stephen Trepreneur

Despite eagerly awaiting a response for weeks, your efforts go unnoticed.

You’re even blocked from posting on their blog, and your SEO rankings suffer. Googling yourself yields no results, except your own interest. No connections, no links—just an empty digital space

Create your own mentors rather than searching for them; it’s as straightforward as that.

Announce to the world who you regard as your mentors, even if they are unaware. This approach embodies the essence of the internet and will grant you powerful supporters. However, be aware that there is a cost to be paid for such a strategy.

In order to win the admiration of your mentors, it is essential to show them some well-deserved appreciation. This doesn’t involve being belittling, but rather sharing insightful content that highlights the valuable knowledge you have acquired from their website, book, podcast, free PDF, or journal. By doing so, you can captivate their hearts and demonstrate your commitment to their teachings.

(So, if your current mentor can’t give you any of these things, seriously, how did you even find them? I mean, let me rephrase that—can they truly call themselves a mentor if they can’t help you improve as a worker, transform into a new person, become an entrepreneur, or ignite your passion for the web? Yeah, I’m skeptical too.)

Spiraling with Eagles

Prepare for a smooth landing with your feet grounded, safety secured, and determination intact. It’s time to conclude this chapter: Select mentors with care, akin to choosing cherished family and friends. Don’t expect gifts, but seek their unwavering encouragement and truthful counsel. Unlike loved ones, mentors may even back your vision with financial aid if it holds immense potential.

Disclaimer:

No part of this post resembles the life of the author’s family or friends. OK, maybe a few friends. And definitely a lot of people who think they are friends. Yeah, and a few acquaintances who thought they were being asked what time the next bus arrives.