1. It holds me accountable. I might ignore my own deadlines but if I have someone else to answer too I'll be much more likely to stay on target.
2. It helps me see the big picture. Because I'm so involved in the day to day operation of my businesses, it's easy to forget the big picture. My mentor helps me to do this, and also helps me make sure all the bits and pieces are coming together to support the whole.
3. It helps me keep an open mind and see things differently. Even though I'm over wanting to rule the world :p I still can get a bit stubborn at times and insist my way is "the" way. My mentor helps me open my mind to other possibilities, some of which are way better than anything I'd have thought up on my own.
4. I have someone to help me when I get stuck. Though I'm at the point where most of this is old hat, there are still times I get stuck and don't know the best way to approach things. My mentor is invaluable at these times because he can get me unstuck and back on track in record time.
5. He has a lot of resources at my disposal. My mentor has been in business online for many more years than I have and has a huge library of resources that I can tap into at any time. I still read the material and watch the instructional videos sometimes because I need a refresher or there's something I haven't quite mastered yet.
(and how to choose one)
When I got started in my very first business – way back before the internet was invented and very few small businesses even had computers – I made the mistake of NOT finding and using a business mentor. I was in my early 20’s, ready to take on and rule the world, and I wanted to do it "my way."
Well I did it. But it was a lot harder than it needed to be and I made a LOT of mistakes – some of them very costly. Looking back I can clearly see how much easier things could have been had I had the foresight (and humility) to find and listen to someone more experienced and wiser than I was.
The world of business is complex and there are many unwritten rules and subtle nuances that can make the difference between being successful and falling flat on your face. Smart business people are always looking for an edge, and they are like sponges, soaking up information and insight from everywhere they can. They also have coaches and mentors – people who've been around the block a few more times than they have and who can help them cut the learning curve and become successful much more quickly.
If you're going into business for yourself (or if you’re already in business), you need your own mentor to help you learn how to structure and run your business efficiently, give advice when you get stuck, and get you back on track when you start taking detours (which we all do).
So how do you find this mentor? These guidelines will give you some things to think about and help you choose the right mentor for you:
How to Choose a Mentor
- Look for someone who is already successful in the general type of business you’re in. Now I’m not saying call the head of your biggest competitor. I’m not sure they’d give you good advice anyway :^) But find someone who has already succeeded in a similar type of business. An online entrepreneur would want to seek help from someone who is already very successful online. A retailer would look for someone successful in that industry. While the exact product or service may be different, there are many skills that transfer from one specific business to the next because the principles of doing business a certain way are the same.
- If applicable, find someone who is successful in your specific sub-category or sub-niche. Some people are interested in a very specific business, in which case it makes to find a mentor who specializes in that area. If you're going to build an E-bay or Amazon Stores empire then look for someone who's already doing that well. If you want to concentrate on affiliate marketing then find someone who's an expert in that area. Want to coach others in a particular field? Find a successful coach who helps others build coaching businesses. If this doesn't apply to you or you're not sure exactly which way your new business will go that's ok. Choose a good, well rounded business mentor and they will help you determine when you need more help than they can offer in a specific area and guide you to someone who can.
- Stay away from the gurus. Yes I know they’re very successful. But they’re also very high priced, and are often more interested in selling their "next great solution to all your problems" than actually helping you as an individual. In addition many of them will only work with people who have already had a considerable amount of success. I know of one guru who was accepting people into his personal coaching program, but one of the requirements was that you had to already be doing at least 10k a month in sales. I don’t know about you but I sure didn't do that when I got started. In fact I didn't do that the whole first year! So I'd back-burner the gurus until you have a solid business under your feet and then consider them only if you truly believe they have something valuable to offer you.
- Test drive a few. Once you have a short list of possible mentors, open a conversation with them to see if there's a fit. Reputable people will answer their e-mail and will also generally answer a few questions and give a small amount of free advice. Be respectful of their time though and don't take advantage. Successful business people are usually very busy and while they're happy to help, they're not there to give unlimited free advice or hold your hand unless you hire them.
- Take advantage of what they offer. Many business mentors – especially online ones – know how important credibility is and will offer free information, courses, newsletters, and sometimes even a phone session. Take advantage of this. It will help you determine if their personality and style meshes with your own, and whether you want to hire them to help you grow your business.
- Make an investment in a program they offer. In addition to free material, many business mentors will offer an introductory course or coaching package, trial membership to their club or website, or something similar. Often they do this at a discounted rate and it's well worth the few bucks it costs to test drive their services and programs and see if they’re right for you.
- Make a commitment. Once you’ve decided on a mentor, it’s time to get on board and COMMIT to doing business with them. You’ve made a brilliant business decision to get help from an expert, and the money you invest in their mentoring will pay off exponentially as you take their advice and grow your business.
By the way, people often ask me if I do business mentoring myself. I don't, because I consider myself to still be in the learning phase and I wouldn't do you justice by pretending to be better than I am at this online business thing.
Having said that, if you need help with technical things like your website or setting up the administrative aspects of your business then I CAN help you. I’m a web designer and also an administrative consultant.
If you need help implementing the marketing strategies I talk about on this website then I CAN help you. I do this for people all the time (and I run my own websites this way too) and I’m happy to help get yours up and running.
If you need a comprehensive business mentor, then I suggest you get in contact with my mentor, Jim Daniels. He can help you far more than I can in ALL aspects of your online business (Note - if you don't want to watch the video click the gold key at the bottom of the page to get his free work at home plan).
