As a business coach, I often hear from all kinds of business owners like network marketing professionals who aren’t being as successful as they could be due to a lack of training. I also hear from solopreneurs, realtors and franchise owners who feel like they need some direction and support.
This is a common problem and it’s one that requires the help of a mentor. When you know you need help, how do you know how to choose the right mentor?
Why it’s Important to Choose the Right Mentor
There are lots of people who would make a good mentor. Professional coaches, friends who are successful network marketing professionals, other business owners and so many more.
You have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a mentor, but it’s important that you choose the one that’s right for you so you can reach your fullest potential. Finding a mentor who has achieved things you want to do, has experience in your field and who is an expert in a specific area you struggle with can be extremely helpful.
The goal is to find someone you can learn from, so choose a mentor who can teach you what you need to know.
I love having mentors as they keep me on top of my game, help me accountable to my goals and inspire me to give extraordinary value for my customers and team members.
Advice from Richard Branson
I had the pleasure of listening to Sir Richard Branson on stage a few months ago and I was so inspired – he is so down to earth, encourages us as entrepreneurs to listen to our intuition, go with our gut, take risks and at the same time use common sense.
There are few other people as qualified to speak on business mentorship than Richard Branson. Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, which includes more than 400 different companies around the globe. He’s someone who has found success and knows how to help others do the same.
In a recent article, the business tycoon shared some advice on how to find the right mentor. He said “Good advice can be just as crucial as funding in the early stages of an enterprise.”
Do Your Research and Network
According to Branson, one great way to find a mentor is to do your research and network. Find people in your industry who have been successful, are thought leaders and who have a lot of experience they could share with you.
Then, attend things like lunches, conferences and networking events to start forming relationships with potential mentors.
Join Online Groups
These days, it’s very easy to network and find mentors online. Join Facebook and LinkedIn groups, participate in Twitter chats and online forums and reach out to bloggers and online business owners to start forming connections and asking questions.
Let Mentorship Blossom
Branson points out that it’s not a good idea to approach someone and ask “Will you be my mentor?” Instead, focus on getting to know people and forming relationships, and then let mentorship come naturally.
How to Start with a New Mentor
When you start forming these relationships and get to know people who could mentor you on your own path to success, you need to take some responsibility in the process.
In other words, your mentor can offer advice, share experiences and give you pointers, but he or she can only do that effectively when you communicate what you need.
To do this, make a private list of questions you have or write down areas you feel you are lacking in. Then, as you get to know mentors, ask these questions to the right people.
One person might be excellent at offering leadership advice while another might be an expert in sales. Both of these mentors could be valuable in different ways as they answer different questions.
Finding a mentor is one of the biggest things you can do to give your business a boost and earn more money.
As a professional business mentor, I help network marketing professionals, business owners, solopreneurs and franchise owners get clear on their vision and set goals that will help their businesses grow.
Feel free to contact me to set up a one-on-one session to find out how you can improve your business. I’d be more than happy to help you!