{"id":2168,"date":"2017-02-06T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging7.kidpreneurs.org\/?p=2168"},"modified":"2017-02-06T08:00:42","modified_gmt":"2017-02-06T08:00:42","slug":"7-keys-for-finding-awesome-mentors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wecreatedesign.co\/dev\/WP\/kidpreneurs\/7-keys-for-finding-awesome-mentors\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Keys for Finding Awesome Mentors"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are about a million things people will say are critical for your success as an entrepreneur. Having a great idea to start with is important, and so is stamina, education, and an ability to persevere through the tough times, just to name a few. But I have always thought that perhaps the most important tool any young entrepreneur can have is a good mentor.<\/p>\n

While all those other skills, traits, and tools are important, it\u2019s a mentor that can help you with each of them. A good mentor is the Swiss Army Knife of entrepreneurship. Wondering if your idea is a great one? Ask your mentor. Need to get educated on an area of business? A good mentor will be able to help or point you in the right direction. Struggling with keeping your stamina and perseverance up? Mentors can be great motivators.<\/p>\n

Grandpa Joe Got Us Started<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At a very early age, my brother Matthew and I had a mentor that shaped our lives forever. Our Grandpa Joe, was a natural entrepreneur, and he started us out on our entrepreneurial journey while we were still in grade school. With his help and guidance, our first business was launched, selling these little trick airplanes at a local festival. He helped us with our marketing strategy and our presentation, which included learning how to really \u201cwow\u201d the audience with cool tricks. That taught us the value of keeping your target market interested, and it gave us our first success, selling out of our inventory quickly.<\/p>\n

Like all good mentors, Grandpa Joe knew what he was doing, could be trusted 100%, and truly cared about our success. And like the very best mentors, his lessons are still poignant and relevant years later. To this day, Matthew and I find ourselves remembering his sage advice when we plan and run our businesses.
My brother and I know how lucky we were to have easy access to a wise and willing mentor. Not all entrepreneurs are as fortunate. But, as with so many things in life, you don\u2019t need luck to gain the advantage of a mentor \u2013 just some work on your part. Below are 7 keys for finding mentors to help you through every step of your entrepreneurial adventure.
\"Mentoring\"
Key #1 \u2013 Identify who you need. <\/strong>As you go through the various stages of your business, from startup, through growth, possible funding, and eventually an exit, your needs change in many areas. This includes what you need in a mentor. Wherever you are in your business now, take the time to figure out what you need in a mentor. Whether you need help with marketing, personnel, growth management, or general operations, your mentor should have the experience you need. Create a \u201cwish list\u201d for the perfect mentor. List all the skills and qualities your mentor would have if you found just the right person. This will help you when you go on to the next tip.<\/p>\n

Key #2 \u2013 Network, network, network. <\/strong>Whatever business you\u2019re in, networking is critical for long-term success. From getting to know others in your industry to finding great sources for leads, and for finding mentors, networking rules. The best mentors are going to be out there networking too. Great mentors tend to be connectors, and connectors are networking pros. So find some events where you\u2019re likely to find the person you identified in tip #1, and start mingling. Also consider online networking. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with people, as are high quality entrepreneur forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Key #3 \u2013 Be a listener. <\/strong>Have you ever had a conversation with a know-it-all? Don\u2019t be that guy or gal. If you\u2019re looking for a mentor, it makes sense that you\u2019re trying to find someone who knows more than you do about certain things. So instead of trying to impress people or make sure your points are heard, try listening. Ask questions about your potential mentor\u2019s background and their life. Show them that you\u2019re able and willing to shut up and listen.<\/p>\n

Key #4 \u2013 Be a good mentee. <\/strong>If you want a good mentor, you have to be a good mentee. That means listening well, as mentioned in the last key, and it means being open to suggestions and feedback. An outside perspective on your business and how you\u2019re running it can be invaluable, but only if you\u2019re willing to be a good student.<\/p>\n

Key #5 \u2013 Have realistic expectations. <\/strong>People who make good mentors are successful, and successful people are busy. Don\u2019t expect a mentor to spend tons of time with you or be available for your call 24\/7. In fact, some mentors may only be available for a single meeting. That\u2019s okay. Make the most of whatever time you can spend with a mentor, and be respectful of their time.<\/p>\n

Key #6 \u2013 You don\u2019t have to know your mentors. <\/strong>I recently had the honor of interviewing Sir Richard Branson. It was awesome to talk to this entrepreneurial superstar who has been a mentor to Matthew and me for many years. Even after talking with him on the phone, I wouldn\u2019t say I know Branson personally, but through his books, articles, and videos, he has mentored us more than just about anyone. If they have a body of content available, your mentor doesn\u2019t need to know they\u2019re your mentor.<\/p>\n

Key #7 \u2013 Show gratitude. <\/strong>Showing appreciation for someone\u2019s mentoring is important. They aren\u2019t doing it for the money, but because they want to help others. Showing your gratitude for their time and wisdom is the least you can do.<\/p>\n

Bonus key! Pay it forward.<\/strong> With the help of mentors and a lot of your own hard work, you\u2019ll hopefully be very successful. But even before that point, you can be a help to others. Consider mentoring a young entrepreneur who needs the kind of help, guidance, and business resources<\/a> you can provide.
Finding the right mentor isn\u2019t always easy, but it\u2019s worth the effort. So if you don\u2019t already have one or more great mentors in your life, use the keys above to find someone to mentor you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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