Mentor ... part 2

A few days ago, I talked about what a mentor was and the role of a mentor in self-development. In this post, I'm looking at the issue of finding a mentor.

So, how do you go about finding a suitable mentor/s. Well... firstly, you have to think about what you want in a mentor... this is an important and fundamental step in the mentor process. It directly concerns what you need in your life.

Once you work out what it is you want, you then go about finding the person/people who already have what you want. Mentors can teach you through a variety of ways: courses, books, audio material, seminars, personal discussions. You don't even have to know your mentor personally... they just have to have the ability to teach, guide and inspire you.

Remember:

-- In essence, anybody can be your mentor. Identify the key people in your life. Mentors can be family members, friends or even public figures, e.g. athletes, community leaders, who have had a profound effect on your life and how you live it.

-- Not only can you learn what to do or how to behave, you can also learn to avoid mistakes others have made, and fruitless paths they have followed.

-- Ask as much as possible. Ask people for advice, ask them how they got where they are, ask them how you can get the same things. Also ask yourself what certain people would say or how they would act in specific situations. The more prepared you are, the less likely you'll make a mistake in the future.

-- Find people with specialized knowledge. If certain people have written an insightful book on a particular subject or have inspirational life experiences to share, then they might be possible mentors who can help motivate you. The library and Internet are great resources for accessing material written by people you aspire to.

Have you got a mentor/s in your life?

Until next time...
take care
Jeanne