I created a unique approach to being mentored. No joke, I haven’t seen anyone else talk about this in the specific way I’m about to share with you.
Getting Multiple Mentors for Business
You’ve probably heard many people talk about the importance of getting a “mentor”. While I don’t disagree with this, I have a new spin on this that may be valuable to you.
The key: instead of having one mentor, have ten mentors. Or more.
Here’s how:
✅ Go to conferences (as well as events and meet-ups) and directly introduce yourself to successful people you’d like to connect with. This can also work through phone calls and emails, but nothing beats face-to-face interaction.
✅ Find ways to genuinely help and benefit them. Make it about them.
✅ Stay in touch with them, but not to get something from them. Stay connected to continue to add value to them. Send them useful articles you’ve come across. Spread the word about their work, projects, and initiatives. Wish them a Merry Christmas.
✅ After a few years of doing this, in a very natural way, start asking them specific questions. This is where you start to indirectly get mentored, often without having to pay for it.
✅ Create a “give and take” relationship where you both sort of help and mentor each other.
Please note: I am NOT in any way devaluing the power of hiring a coach here (and you can have a coach while you implement this strategy). I’m simply offering an additional/alternative approach for your consideration that takes both time and effort, and will help get you to where you’d like to be.
This is not something where you can wave a magic wand and you’ll suddenly get there. You need to be patient. And you need to be authentic. But if you sincerely invest in the process, you’ll definitely reap the rewards.
A Long-Term Mindset Is Crucial
This approach requires a long-term mindset. And it’s revolutionary because when you do this with enough people, you’ll end up having a solid group of contacts you can go to for help and advice without having to think twice about it.
Authentic leadership involves thinking about the long-term, instead of only focusing on the short-term.
Don’t Get Locked Into One Perspective
Never put all your eggs into one basket. Part of this approach involves doing it with multiple people. Everyone has their own perspective, skill sets, and insights, so different people are good to go to for different things.
The danger here is that when you only have one mentor – as so many people encourage you to have – you become locked into their singular perspective. While they may be generally helpful, their perspective doesn’t apply to every situation.
The Power of Giving
One of my most valuable assets is the forty mentors I have (who come to me for advice at times as well). I went through a big life and business challenge in 2020, and they really helped me get through it.
These are people who are typically hard to reach, but I’m able to call them on the phone and reach them immediately because I thought long-term and focused on the relationship.
I also focused for years on giving, and after years of being a go-giver only then did I start asking for advice.
In my experience, this works. People who successfully get mentors are focused on what they can give before they think about what they can get.
Give it a try. What do you have to lose?
Jeff Davis is an award-winning author, most recently publishing The Power of Authentic Leadership: Activating the 13 Keys to Achieving Prosperity Through Authenticity. He’s also an authentic leadership keynote speaker. Connect with him on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter. For three free books (The Power of Authentic Leadership, Reach Your Mountaintop, and Traveling Triumphs) in exchange for being added to his email list, email his Executive Assistant at meg@jeffdspeaks.com. Learn more about his story on his About page and feel free to check out his author page on Amazon.
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