This is a guest post by Michael Gaudet.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard the word “mentor” bantered around lots.
What is a mentor, really?
Image via www.awarenessdates.com
I think it is a person, living or dead, that you find for some reason or another to be a source of powerful, life-changing inspiration. This might be due to the person’s story: he or she has overcome some threatening life situation to triumph against almost impossible odds. Perhaps it’s a person that you admire because she has managed to rise from obscurity to ‘rich and famous’. How about someone who seems to have everything including a positive attitude and unassailable integrity?
Or maybe you have hooked up with a person who happens to take a shine to you and wants to reach out to offer great tips at just the right moment…whatever the case may be, be sure you choose your mentor carefully.
Don’t Settle For Just Anyone!
The opportunity exists at all times for you to be the one who reaches out to proactively select the perfect mentor for your own personal situation, no matter what it is!
Take a time out and think about who you would associate with, what skill set you might be lacking; figure out exactly who the person is that has the ability to kick-start your fledgling enterprise and then go out and find that person!
Chances are, if you are realistic and sincere in your quest you will surprise yourself with how everything falls into place once you commit 100% to your decision. There are literally millions of experts in a wide spectrum of special fields that would be willing to help you out.
It’s a basic law of success that successful people understand: Help as many people as possible become a success to globally and exponentially ramp up success, period.
You will more than likely discover that people that spurn your advances are shallow-minded and are probably not cut out to be a mentor anyway.
If you find that Mr. X cannot make the time to return a call or answer an e-mail chances are you are wasting your time with the individual. So no big deal.
Do not take it personally. Simple refocus and get out there with renewed enthusiasm because you are one conversation closer to hitting pay-dirt!
Michael Gaudet is an artist specializing in large historic murals. See Gallery Gaudet. He has branched off into aeronautical design and invented a ‘Ring-Wing’ glider called Skyaak. Follow him on Twitter.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
This is the best advise that any person, no matter in what walk of life, can be given. A mentor is like a solid rock on which one rests after back breaking work.
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April 29th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Good article, very reasonable advice
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April 29th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I don’t think that the title is right for the subject since we can never attract the right mentor but we could always look for the right mentor.
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Dennis Edell (56 comments) Reply:
April 29th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
What makes you say that?
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..100 Marketers Give 100 Strategies – Recommended!
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
April 29th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I think it is possible, even advisable, to attract the right mentor for your purposes. This post just barely scratches the surface on the subject.
In my experience, the most enlightened business/industry ‘leaders’ are happy to answer a question or steer you in the right direction when asked.
But you must have some ‘attractive’ qualities (such as a killer business model) to pique their interest in the first place.
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April 29th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I recently wrote a piece on the exact topic, if you’d like to give it a read.
http://www.directsaleswebmarketing.com/business-mentors-advisers-coaches/
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..100 Marketers Give 100 Strategies – Recommended!
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
April 29th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Yeah, it reads well, Dennis, well done! Brilliant idea to invite your readers to contribute their own story.
Speaking of mentors, my latest blog post is my brief review of Seth Godin’s ’slender but delicious morsel’ of a book TRIBES.
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April 30th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Let your approach to a mentor be a creative one as well..I was able to land a relationship with someone who became my future business funder just because I sent him a video resume..
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Dennis Edell (56 comments) Reply:
April 30th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
This is spot on Melody. Similar to looking for JV partners and the like, the approach is a huge consideration.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..100 Marketers Give 100 Strategies – Recommended!
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April 30th, 2009 at 3:46 am
i get lesson today…
don’t settle for just anyone.
thanks
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
You’re welcome, @kampanye damai pemilu You get to decide who you want as a mentor, depending on what your exact needs are at the moment. The trick is to find just the right match.
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April 30th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Why do we need one mentor after all? There are several people who could inspire us.. our objective should be to learn more… rather than focussing on finding a mentor..
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
April 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
oh yeah, ukloans. I totally agree with you, well put.
Different ‘mentors’ for different times and for completely different reasons. Not to be thought of as a static thing at all.
How about connecting with several simultaneously for a more global perspective?
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April 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
If you want to be successful you ‘must’ hangout with successful people.
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Right on. Who wants to hang out with a bunch of losers or cynics? Positive people tend to attract each other. It’s always a win-win.
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May 1st, 2009 at 5:49 am
This is so true but not IMHO mentors aren’t for everyone. These ‘mentors’ are usually not receptive to a lot of people..
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Dennis Edell (56 comments) Reply:
May 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Then they can’t call themselves mentors.
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Michael Gaudet (12 comments) Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Exactly, @Dennis Edell. Not everyone is cut out to be a mentor. It takes a certain personality type. Someone who wants to give back to the community that made them successful in the first place.
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