{"id":257,"date":"2007-04-11T10:53:19","date_gmt":"2007-04-11T17:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2007\/04\/11\/how-to-find-mentors\/"},"modified":"2018-04-04T03:30:41","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T10:30:41","slug":"how-to-find-mentors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2007\/04\/11\/how-to-find-mentors\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Mentors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"need<\/p>\n

Most books have a section where the author thanks all the people that made writing the book possible. Who would fill that section in your autobiography? Few successes are entirely independent ventures. Getting the right mentors, coaches and role models can dramatically reduce the amount of trial and error to reach your goals.<\/p>\n

Like many of you, I\u2019ve heard this suggestion before. The more important question is how exactly do you find mentors who can give you the benefits of your wisdom?<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t always had a lot of advisors. Aside from the obligatory advice from a few family members, I had to actively seek out mentors. Starting out with little external support, I now feel comfortable that I know dozens of people from different areas of expertise that I trust to ask for advice. I\u2019m far from the worlds best networker, but I have learned a few things about how to attract smart people into my life.<\/p>\n

Demonstrate Commitment<\/h2>\n

Smart people don\u2019t want to waste their time. Most successful people will be eager to offer advice, but if it seems like you aren\u2019t committed, they won\u2019t bother. For someone who is time constrained, offering up a few minutes for a quick reply is easy, but spending longer to offer thorough advice is costly.<\/p>\n

You should be moving towards your goals even if you don\u2019t have advisors. Ironically, this stubborn refusal to let a lack of knowledge stand in your way is exactly the kind of attitude that attracts mentors. Prove to the world you are committed and it might surprise you with the resources it offers.<\/p>\n

Appreciate the Advice<\/h2>\n

A lot of advice is bad advice. You rarely get a chance to follow up on every suggestion you get, and some of the ideas you get thrown at you are downright lousy. But don\u2019t bite the hand that feeds you. If you respect a persons experience and success, listen carefully and appreciate any advice given to you.<\/p>\n

Listen carefully and thank the other person for their suggestions. Even if you choose not to use that advice, remaining humble is crucial. Your mentors are humans too, and they have egos to protect. Don\u2019t damage their self-image by ignoring or disrespecting their advice. If you have concerns, raise them, but your goal is to learn not to persuade.<\/p>\n

Join Organizations<\/h2>\n

The best place to find mentors is through organizations. Online forums are a great place to start looking for mentors. While a purely online relationship lacks the emotional depth of understanding and support, the internet can be a great medium for finding mentors. Search out forums, newsgroups or associations and work your way in.<\/p>\n

Organizations that have a paid membership base often have a higher quality of mentors at your disposal assuming that the membership base is large enough. Free forums are mostly noise with just a few experts dispensing advice to the often ungrateful masses. Paying for membership to either an industry association or clubs like Toastmasters can also be a way of demonstrating your commitment.<\/p>\n

Give First<\/h2>\n

You have to give before you get. In the case of mentors, this can often be confusing. What do you have to offer your mentor? There are many things you can add but here are just a few that I\u2019ve found useful in providing value to those who can advise you:<\/p>\n