Do You Need A Mentor? And How Do You Find One?

Whether you're self-employed or you work for someone else, you're new to business or a seasoned expert, one of the best ways to get ahead in business is to find a mentor. And some highly successful people even have more than one.

What's a mentor?

A mentor is someone who is willing to take you under his or her wing, give you advice and suggestions to help you improve your skills and business acumen, show you how they do something that helps them succeed, and help you reach your goals. He or she is someone who is already skilled, experienced and successful at what you need to learn.

For instance, one of my mentors is Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, a former newspaper editor turned publicity guru who is a very successful online entrepreneur. I chose her because she is a few years ahead of me with her Internet success and she has always been willing to help me. She offers excellent feedback on business ideas I'm considering, gives me suggestions about how to improve the idea, sends me resources, reviews my ebooks and newsletters, and provides mental support. I also have several other people in my business sphere who mentor me about other issues in my business. They are all people who have "been there/done that."

A mentor can work with you on an informal or formal basis. Joan helps me on an informal basis, but she also helps others more formally through her paid mentorship program. (Lucky me!) Some companies pair seasoned employees with newer ones to "show them the ropes" and help them succeed. Usually an arrangement like this comes with certain requirements, company policies and some way to evaluate its success.

In her initial one-hour consultation with mentee Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Public Relations, Joan Stewart gave Michelle an idea for her client, a cosmetic dentist. The result? A popular Top 40 radio station in Denver offered the dentist the equivalent of $250,000 in advertising, for free. Wouldn't you like this kind of mentor?

Identifying and recruiting a mentor may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.

If you work in a big company, there may be a formal program already set up for you. Here's the route I'd use to find the right mentor if I worked in such a company.

First, I'd ask my boss if there was a formal program within the company and how I could become part of it. If she didn't know of one, then I'd go to the Human Resources department and talk to the human resources manager.

If there was no program, I would have a couple of options. I could try to develop one (which would be an excellent learning experience, as well as a way to showcase my organizational and team-building qualities), or I could create an informal relationship with someone I admired and knew I could learn from within the company.

If I chose to simply find a mentor without creating a whole program, I'd take a look at everyone "above" me in the company. Specifically, I'd want someone who:

- Was at least two levels further up the corporate ladder than I was.

- Was a good, easy-to-understand communicator.

- Was really good at his job.

- Had the confidence of his superiors.

- Was willing to teach me the ropes, and who I could help somewhat, too (perhaps by doing research or writing for him).

- Had mentored others in the past (if possible--I suggest you get a recommendation).

On the other hand, if you're reading this, you may be self-employed. So how do YOU find the right mentor? Here's what I did to find mine (and I believe in having more than one mentor):

- I decided what I needed to learn.

- I watched who was posting on discussion forums and who has authored books or articles on topics I needed to learn.

- I subscribed to their newsletters and visited their websites.

- I checked out the potential mentors -- meaning I tried to learn about their reputation, and I listened to seminars they gave and read books and articles written by my prospective mentors to see how they might help me.

- I looked to see if they had a formal mentoring program in which I could participate.

- I spoke to my prospective mentors to see if they were interested in working with me. (Sometimes I simply ask questions without trying to make it a formal thing, however.)

Should you join a paid mentorship program? It is often well worth the money you invest in yourself when you join a formal mentoring program. Not only will you have the full attention of your mentor on a regular basis, but it will also make you accountable for setting and reaching your goals, and your mentor will be there to give you ideas and help you every step of the way.

And being accountable to someone else for completing my tasks and accomplishing my goals has always helped me! If I know I'll have to tell someone that I made the phone calls, finished the project, or followed up on our previous conversation, I'll be much more likely to do it within the time frame we agreed upon. And when I do each of the steps that my mentor and I discuss, I definitely reach my goals...sometimes faster than a speeding bullet!

Are you ready to reach your goals? Find a volunteer mentor or join a paid mentoring program.

Lois Carter Fay, APR, is a 30-year veteran in the P.R. and marketing field who serves as a mentor for several people, both formally and informally. She produces three marketing ezines, Brainy Tidbits, Brainy Flash, and Success Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs. All are free. She's also the co-author with Jim Wilson of "Sales Success! Strategies for Women," a quick-to-read ebook containing 52 easy-to-implement sales tips. The ezines and ebook are available through her websites.

Visit http://www.MarketingIdeaShop.com or http://www.WomenMarketing.com to learn more sales and marketing ideas and subscribe. Claim your free special report when you subscribe.

---

What is My Calling?

"What is my calling?" Do any of us really have... Read More

Six of the Best for a Winning Resume

1. Be CompleteMake sure that your resume includes EVERYTHING your... Read More

The Fallibility of Psychological Testing

Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so in... Read More

Free Resume Examples: Use Them, But Dont

There are lots of free resume examples (or free resume... Read More

Negotiating Skills: How to Obtain the Salary You Want

Salary negotiating is an important topic that must be addressed... Read More

Career Change - Is Your Career A Good Fit Or Is It Causing Pain?

Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking... Read More

10 Key Career Success Questions

At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More

How To Receive Payment as a Freelance Translator?

A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how... Read More

Recovering From a Career Crisis

If you have ever experienced any of the following, you... Read More

Bringing Our Family to Work

Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and... Read More

I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids?

One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More

Finding a Career in Harmony with Your Life Path

Which of the following would you chose? Doing your lifework... Read More

Conflicts With Your Boss Are Inevitable, But Can Be Healthy

If you are a pro-active, get-things-done type, sooner or later... Read More

Don?t Be Too Passionate About Your Work

Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing... Read More

Counter-Offers: Do They Merit Consideration?

You are one of the fortunate few who have not... Read More

Job Search 101

The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at... Read More

Settling Successfully Into Your New Job

The euphoria of getting a new job can sometimes be... Read More

Finding Freelance Writing Jobs - Join Us On The Job Search

Finding freelance writing jobs require great skill, dedication and lots... Read More

Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed

I recently was "unhired" by my former employer. Unhired is... Read More

Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs

You are about to compete for the best people again.... Read More

20 Ways to Advance Your Career

To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is... Read More

Finding Success In Todays Job Market

This year we are experiencing the most dynamic and rapidly... Read More

Career Job Satisfaction - Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!

Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!We can... Read More

Top 10 Skills for New World of Work

There are many changes coming in the world of work,... Read More

Multiple Skills for the 21st Century

(excerpted from The Weekend Seminar - Skills for the 21st... Read More

7 Steps To A Job-Winning Resume

A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts... Read More

About Your Work

I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol.... Read More

Using Keywords to Find Legitimate Telecommuting Job Leads

Many people are choosing telecommuting as an option to bring... Read More

Minding Your Own Business

Think you have gone as far as you can in... Read More

Losing a Career When Youre Moving for Love

Those who watched HBO's Sex and the City (SATC, now... Read More

The Inevitable Job Interview Question: ?Why Did You Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position

This is a question that you can almost count on... Read More

Working Abroad - Employment Advice In Spain

Jobs and employment on the Costa BlancaThe Council of Europe... Read More

Handling the Dreaded Why Did You Leave? Question

If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you... Read More