When it comes to your journey to success, very few things are more valuable than having a mentor. Getting the right mentor could be the difference between becoming successful early and succeeding later in life with so many bruises to show.
You may attribute your success to those hard lessons. But the truth is, some pains are unnecessary and having a mentor could’ve shaved years off of your journey.
But before we cut to the chase, who is a mentor?
A mentor is someone who is willing and able to offer his/her wisdom, knowledge and guidance to someone who is less experienced or accomplished. Mentorship comes in various forms, systems and arenas but the primal idea is pretty much the same. It’s a relationship that affords a mentee the opportunity to ride on the mentor’s years of experience and wisdom with the goal of shortening his/her expected time of arrival (ETA) to success.
One other thing before we get the list rolling.
It is okay and even advisable to have multiple mentors for different aspects of your life. You could have a finance or business mentor, a career mentor, a health mentor, an academic mentor—if you are a student—a marriage or parenting mentor and of course, a spiritual mentor.
That said, let’s see 5 reasons why you should have a mentor.
1. Your Future is Their Present or Even Their Past
The biggest upside of having a mentor is that they have achieved what you’re aiming for. To put that in another sentence, they know what works and what is a total waste of time. They know this because they’ve gotten their fingers burnt several times in the past. But they learned their lessons and figured a better way; a better way you should know. So, a mentor will share their story with you, minimizing your failures and help you maximize your time, energy and resources.
2. You Need Their Professional Eyes
Enough of taking business advice from your parents or siblings. Now, that’s not to downplay parental advice, okay? If your parents are established businesspersons, by all means listen to them. But if there are not, don’t let your emotions get the best of you. No matter how well-meaning they are, they have not gone down that path before. And so, they may not be in the right spot to give you professional advice. Besides, since your loved ones are emotionally invested in you, their perspective may be a bit biased to offer you succour as opposed to telling you the blatant truth.
3. You Need Their Network
After spending years in business, your mentor surely has a large network of client and partners that could be a huge advantage to you. These people may be big players in their fields and are out of your league. You can’t even get their contact let alone book an appointment with them. But with a mentor, a simple phone call can pen doors your mentorless colleagues would spend the next 5 years finding. Access is key!
4. You Will Get Free Advice That Cost Others a Fortune
Mentors may be consultants in their own rights. Or they may be big fishes who have consultants swarming around them; consultants your shallow pocket may not be able to hire. Imagine your mentor linking you up with his/her personal consultant to offer you an expensive service for free. Think of how much of an advantage it would be for you and your business to have an experienced person help you get results and not charge you a dime. A true mentor is happy to see you succeed. They don’t need your money. They only need ears that listen, hands that execute and feet that work.
5. Mentors are Banks of Opportunities
Because of the small size and quality of your network, there is only so much information you’re privy to. But having a mentor who plays in the big league changes everything. Also, their experienced eyes can spot opportunities from miles away; opportunities that younger folks like you may never see. Having played this game for so long, mentors can sense patterns, connect the dots and offer you the right tools and connections to leverage opportunities. Yours is to listen, trust and follow their word.
You may also like: 5 Ways to Find a True Mentor
Which of these five reasons hits home for you? Please share in the comments.
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I have gone through everything and I can attest to the fact that we all need mentors.
Sir Elisha Mamman is all you need. Number three hit me so hard.
Advice: Go through the post again.
Beautiful I love this. Thank you sir.
Number Three for me was my recent Experience..
“YOU NEES THEIR NETWORK”
This statement was real to me; .
“These people may be big players in their fields and are out of your league. You can’t even get their contact let alone book an appointment with them. But with a mentor, a simple phone call can pen doors your mentorless colleagues would spend the next 5 years finding. Access is key!”
I traveled to makurdi to market some products {Pepper Spray, Hand sanitizer and Mosquito repelants”}… And i was to go to different supermarkets to talk with their managers or owners… But I sat back and told myself; “How many CEO’s do i know in makurdi…and how sure I’m that they’ll listen to me..so guess what I did???
I went straight to my mentor, Dr Okoye Obiora.. D husband to Miss Oriflame 2016… And told him these is what i came for.. I need your influence and Favour to get into the market world… He said OK.. Then he put a call across to his friend who owns “Titus west Super market” and that was my first connection… He gave me his attention knowing fully well that his well respected friend sent me to him… It’s really true…
1..the biggest upside of having a mentor is that they have achieved what you are aiming for…..am bless by this piece.
5. My being close to my mom is the reason I am happily married today. I am myself and happy.
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