Top 5 Ways to Find a Mentor

I get a ton of traffic to my blog from people who want to know how to ask someone to be their mentor. This post is part of a series on asking someone to be your mentor. Be sure to look for the links to the related posts at the bottom of this article!

Most of the top entrepreneurs in the business world have had mentors that assisted them in their career, business or psychology. And, most of these professionals will continue to have mentors throughout their lives and will mentor others. A mentor is someone who can guide you (or take you under his or her wing) in becoming a better entrepreneur.

Here are the top 5 ways to find a mentor:

#1 Do your homework first.

Never tell a prospective mentor you are not sure how they can be of assistance to you, or that you do not have a business plan. Lay some very real groundwork on your project or idea, such as having all the financials in place, or a brochure describing your product or service. When asking someone to be your mentor, find out what you can do in preparation for a mentoring session and be willing to do the work necessary for your first call.

#2 Know yourself and your business or project.

List your strengths and weaknesses. Describe your goals, business and/or project to help clarify where a mentor can be of assistance. Write down the types of qualities you desire in a mentor. Evaluate your own personality type. Think about what you are looking for in a relationship. The clearer you are about this, the better idea you can give a mentor of what type of support you need.

#3 Use your connections.

Your alumni associations, professors, clients, social media friends & connections, all are good resources for finding a mentor.

#4 Join a group.

Utilize social media; Linkedin has numerous entrepreneur groups you can join and post a discussion. Investment groups, local business groups and networking groups have been established to gather like-minded people and to assist them in their business growth.

#5 Ask for referrals.

Tell everyone you know — your friends, family, co-workers, retired executives, neighbors — that you need a mentor. Everyone you talk to is a potential resource for finding a mentor.

Be prepared to be a good mentee. Always take the advice of a mentor seriously and follow-up on suggestions or “homework” assignments.

Lastly, don’t assume the other person has time. Don’t assume they would be a good fit for you. Don’t assume they would be willing to mentor you. Don’t assume they have a genuine interest in your growth. The best mentors share the same level of interest and commitment as you.

And, always send a thank you letter or email to everyone who supported you or mentored you.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Grab my FREE eCourse on Smart Tips for Getting a Mentor! This 7 part series will help you find and ask someone to be your mentor. You’ll also get 23 extraordinary questions to ask your mentor! What are you waiting for?