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<\/figure>\nWhy Partial Mentors Can Be Greater<\/h2>\n
The relative rarity of all-encompassing mentors is one reason why you shouldn\u2019t obsess over finding them. But another is simply that the relationships you make with partial mentors can be more equal and mutually beneficial.<\/p>\n
Consider becoming friends with that person who is ten steps ahead of you in career or business. If that person would sit you down and patiently give you advice and suggestions, you might really benefit. But how are you going to similarly benefit this person?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a whole host of reasons why mentors want mentees. But the biggest is simply when the relationship is directly valuable. If this person can learn something useful from you, or you otherwise serve as a useful contact, the relationship is going to be less one-sided.<\/p>\n
Partial mentors, therefore, are valuable because the chances that you have something worthwhile to share with them is much higher.<\/p>\n
My Experiences with Both Types of Mentors<\/h2>\n
In my own career, I\u2019ve had plenty of experience with both types of mentors.<\/p>\n
I have friends who are clearly ahead of me in experience, and from whom I\u2019m usually taking advice (not the other way around). I try to help them however I can, but it\u2019s clear we\u2019re not on the same level. As a result, our interactions tend to be briefer and more one-sided.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, I have a much larger circle of peers that are better than me at some things, but for whom I\u2019m good enough at others to also help them. This larger circle is much easier to talk with, have more frequent calls and discussions, and even offer mutual support.<\/p>\n
I recently decided to work on a project to try to improve the traffic on my website. As a result, I talked to one of my friends who is an expert in SEO. Another who generates a lot of traffic with his website, and still another who has had impressive success with social media.<\/p>\n
Individually, I wouldn\u2019t want to completely emulate what any of those three people do in isolation, but in combination their suggestions were better than any I could have reasonably achieved from a perfect mentor who was doing exactly what I wanted. Best of all, because these people are not so far ahead of me, I can also offer something in return, say from my experience running courses.<\/p>\n
Seeking Out Partial Mentors<\/h2>\n
The first step is to drop the expectation that someone should be better than you at everything in order for you to learn something from them. Mentors don\u2019t need to be strictly higher than you in whatever social hierarchy you experience.<\/p>\n
Second, try to cultivate friendships with people whose skills are broad and diversified. Therefore, you may not have one single person who is amazing at everything, but when you consider your social group as a whole, its collective intelligence ought to greatly exceed your own.<\/p>\n
Third, try to size up and identify your relative value that you can contribute back to these partial mentors. What can you add that they don\u2019t possess? Which skills, knowledge and experiences do you have that you could presumably help them with. Be generous with your talents and others will be with theirs.<\/p>\n