Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship is more about personal growth. A mentor serves as an advisor, providing insights, experiences, and support. Don't look for a mentor if you don't have an open mind. A real mentor pulls out your inner confidence. This can come off as constructive criticism, tough love or even feel like boot camp. They might hold your hand, but you have to be willing to show up and do the work. A mentor does not have to be someone in your specific industry. Find someone who is relatable, someone who has reached a level of success that you aspire to achieve. Most importantly, find someone who is authentic and keeps it real - that basically means that they have some personality! If you want to be a mentor at some point in time, make sure that you also have a genuine and authentic personality. Most mentors offer their time and expertise for free and some charge for their access. You have to decide what works for you and don't take advantage of their kindness. A mentee/mentorship has to be mutually beneficial. It is not a one sided relationship.
In honor of national mentoring month in January, let's explore how mentorship propels growth in both business and personal goals through these key benefits:
Experiential Learning = learn from their mistakes so that you don't make the same mistakes. This helps to accelerate your growth.
Guidance in Decision-Making = get trusted advice so that you can make quality and educated decisions and reduce irrational or indecisive thinking. When you can't talk to your friends and family, maybe even your spouse, you should be able to entrust in your mentor. A mentor wants to see you succeed and celebrate growth and success with you! This helps to build your confidence and you might no longer need that mentor.
Â
Networking Opportunities = networking is about tapping into resources and opportunities that other people might have. Collaboration over competition - as much as you might want to do this, it won't always be the case. It's important to stay optimistic and what for you will always work itself out.
Skill Development and Knowledge Transfer = you don't know how other people see you or sometimes even how you see your self. It's important to be self aware and honest to know what your strengths are and where you might have room for improvement.
Emotional Support and Motivation = being an entrepreneur is hard work! There's no sugarcoating it. Even if you don't want to be an entrepreneur and you aspire to grow professionally in the corporate work or with personal development, you will have to face yourself at some point and have a growth mindset to embrace change. Don't let your limited thinking block you from receiving what's for you. You grow when you are stretched outside of your comfort zone.
Accountability and Goal Setting = if you don't know what you're working towards, you are just wasting time. Goals = intention and structured focus for discipline.
Expanded Leadership Skills = you might not be a formal leader at work but there are so many different opportunities for you to gain leadership experience. You just need to look for opportunities for you to step up and inspire and influence others.
Continuous Learning and Adaptability = life is always about learning. You either learn together or you learn by yourself. As you grow and go through different experiences in life, you will learn different things to allow you to have a stronger mindset and make you more relatable to others.
Enhanced Self-Awareness = self awareness is important for accountability. No one can make you want to change for the better but you for yourself.
Legacy Building = do you aspire to build your own legacy, or carry on a family legacy. What values are important to you and the people that you align yourself with to develop healthier relationships where you can make an impact, professionally or personally.
Personalized Feedback and Development Plans = sometimes you need a cheerleader or a coach to tell you when you're doing good or when you need to make changes. A mentor can help give you insight and feedback on whatever it is that you are working on to make sure your plans and goals are aligned.
Exposure to Diverse Perspectives = a mentor will open your eyes and ears to new insights and perspectives and help you to develop your critical thinking skills.
Confidence Building = we all can use a boost of confidence at times. Sometimes you might need to borrow that confidence from your mentor with reassurance and affirmations to help you reach your goals.
Stress Reduction and Work-Life Balance = at certain times we have to anticipate different levels of stress. I've learned there is good stress and bad stress and both are sometimes needed in moderation when working to achieve your goals.
Long-Term Relationship Building = the right relationships can get you into doors that you cant get yourself into at times. Learn to not judge a book by its cover and don't be afraid to connect with someone because of a title. Learn to build genuine connections.
Resilience and Perseverance = a mentor will not allow you to stay stuck on you setbacks and failures. These are opportunities for change and growth. A mentor will help you learn to adapt and bounce back up when you feel like you've fallen down.
In conclusion, mentorship is a dynamic partnership or relationship fostering holistic growth. From career advice to emotional support, mentors play a pivotal role in unlocking your full potential. Embrace this opportunity, learn from experience, and let mentorship be your compass to excellence and fulfillment.
Join one of our virtual mentoring sessions or register for one of our paid courses that has mentoring included at www.notarytrainingnetwork.org.
