Do You Need A Mentor? And How Do You Find One?. Are You Ready To Make A Strong Finish?.
Whether you're self-employed or you work for someone else, you're new to business or a seasoned expert, one of the best ways to get ahead in business is to find a mentor. And some highly successful people even have more than one.
What's a mentor?
A mentor is someone who is willing to take you under his or her wing, give you advice and suggestions to help you improve your skills and business acumen, show you how they do something that helps them succeed, and help you reach your goals. He or she is someone who is already skilled, experienced and successful at what you need to learn.
For instance, one of my mentors is Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, a former newspaper editor turned publicity guru who is a very successful online entrepreneur. I chose her because she is a few years ahead of me with her Internet success and she has always been willing to help me. She offers excellent feedback on business ideas I'm considering, gives me suggestions about how to improve the idea, sends me resources, reviews my ebooks and newsletters, and provides mental support. I also have several other people in my business sphere who mentor me about other issues in my business. They are all people who have "been there/done that."
A mentor can work with you on an informal or formal basis. Joan helps me on an informal basis, but she also helps others more formally through her paid mentorship program. (Lucky me!) Some companies pair seasoned employees with newer ones to "show them the ropes" and help them succeed. Usually an arrangement like this comes with certain requirements, company policies and some way to evaluate its success.
In her initial one-hour consultation with mentee Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Public Relations, Joan Stewart gave Michelle an idea for her client, a cosmetic dentist. The result? A popular Top 40 radio station in Denver offered the dentist the equivalent of $250,000 in advertising, for free. Wouldn't you like this kind of mentor?
Identifying and recruiting a mentor may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.
If you work in a big company, there may be a formal program already set up for you. Here's the route I'd use to find the right mentor if I worked in such a company.
First, I'd ask my boss if there was a formal program within the company and how I could become part of it. If she didn't know of one, then I'd go to the Human Resources department and talk to the human resources manager.
If there was no program, I would have a couple of options. I could try to develop one (which would be an excellent learning experience, as well as a way to showcase my organizational and team-building qualities), or I could create an informal relationship with someone I admired and knew I could learn from within the company.
If I chose to simply find a mentor without creating a whole program, I'd take a look at everyone "above" me in the company. Specifically, I'd want someone who:
- Was at least two levels further up the corporate ladder than I was.
- Was a good, easy-to-understand communicator.
- Was really good at his job.
- Had the confidence of his superiors.
- Was willing to teach me the ropes, and who I could help somewhat, too (perhaps by doing research or writing for him).
- Had mentored others in the past (if possible--I suggest you get a recommendation).
On the other hand, if you're reading this, you may be self-employed. So how do YOU find the right mentor? Here's what I did to find mine (and I believe in having more than one mentor):
- I decided what I needed to learn.
- I watched who was posting on discussion forums and who has authored books or articles on topics I needed to learn.
- I subscribed to their newsletters and visited their websites.
- I checked out the potential mentors -- meaning I tried to learn about their reputation, and I listened to seminars they gave and read books and articles written by my prospective mentors to see how they might help me.
- I looked to see if they had a formal mentoring program in which I could participate.
- I spoke to my prospective mentors to see if they were interested in working with me. (Sometimes I simply ask questions without trying to make it a formal thing, however.)
Should you join a paid mentorship program? It is often well worth the money you invest in yourself when you join a formal mentoring program. Not only will you have the full attention of your mentor on a regular basis, but it will also make you accountable for setting and reaching your goals, and your mentor will be there to give you ideas and help you every step of the way.
And being accountable to someone else for completing my tasks and accomplishing my goals has always helped me! If I know I'll have to tell someone that I made the phone calls, finished the project, or followed up on our previous conversation, I'll be much more likely to do it within the time frame we agreed upon. And when I do each of the steps that my mentor and I discuss, I definitely reach my goals...sometimes faster than a speeding bullet!
Are you ready to reach your goals? Find a volunteer mentor or join a paid mentoring program.
Lois Carter Fay, APR, is a 30-year veteran in the P.R. and marketing field who serves as a mentor for several people, both formally and informally.
She produces three marketing ezines, Brainy Tidbits, Brainy Flash, and Success Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs. All are free. She's also the co-author with Jim Wilson of "Sales Success! Strategies for Women," a quick-to-read ebook containing 52 easy-to-implement sales tips. The ezines and ebook are available through her websites.![[ Attracting And Dating Beautiful Women ] - Secrets Of Seduction](http://static.sxc.hu/pic/2/s/b/be/beezus/359503_8679.jpg)
Visit http://www.MarketingIdeaShop.com or http://www.WomenMarketing.com to learn more sales and marketing ideas and subscribe. Claim your free special report when you subscribe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Talk about a strong finish! In their inspiring story of perserverance which ultimately led to great success and victory, the Detroit Shock won their first ever WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) championship title. USA Today told of their "worst-to-first odyssey" where the team, after winning only nine games in 2002, they finished 2003 with a league-best record and championship title. What was their formula for success? "They did not quit... they believed they could succeed and played their best... They also have a coach in whom they believe and who gives them confidence."
The Shocks championship victory is an example of what can happen through perseverence and continuing to work toward a dream. Although your goals may seem out of reach, it is too soon to quit. There is still time to make significant progress toward your goals. Following are four tips to guide you in achieving your goals for the year and making a strong finish.
Four Tips for a Successful Finish
1. REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS. Take a look at your accomplishments since the beginning of the year. Are you on track to accomplish your goals? Have you lost sight of some goals in the busy-ness of daily activities? Acknowledge the progress that you have made and determine which goals you will continue to pursue.
Ask yourself: What have I accomplished to date? Which goals are most important to me?
2. REASSESS YOUR GOALS. Are you clear about what you want to achieve? Are your goals based on your true values or on something you feel you should do or ought to do? Give yourself permission to re-define or even eliminate goals that may no longer fit.
Ask yourself: Are my goals based on my true values? What do I really want to achieve?
3. RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR SUCCESS. Are you committed to achieving your goals? Decide that you will do what it takes to be successful in accomplishing the goals that are important to you.
Ask yourself: What is one thing I can do today to strengthen my commitment?
4. GET SUPPORT IN REACHING YOUR GOALS. Any endeavor is easier and more fun when shared with another. Having a teacher, mentor or a coach who is there to nurture and support you, to offer feedback and perspective and to challenge you to do more than you could accomplish on your own will increase your likelihood for success.
Ask yourself: Who will I ask to support me in reaching my goal?
"Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life." ~ Harvey Mackay
About The Author
Pat Morgan, MBA and Professional Coach, has 10 years experience helping teams manage organizational and cultural change. As President of Smooth Sailing, she supports individuals and organizations in managing change, improving performance and achieving excellence both professionally and personally. She has created and led workshops and seminars for organizations such as: the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and Rotary International.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
OTHER INTERESTING POSTS
Wedding Planning: Benefits of Online Wedding RSVPs
What Makes an Entrepreneur?
How to Recognize and Cope with an Emotional Affair
Skydiving - Western Canada
How to Survive in Business Long Enough to Win
Microsoft Dynamics GP: Auto Dealership Implementation
Ten Things Medical Doctors Are Not Good At
Understanding 911 and the Politics of Blame
Chiang Mai Hotels - Luxury Rooms At Youth Hostel Prices
Ways to Get Traffic to Your Website
