Why You Need A Mentor
Years ago, I decided I wanted to play the guitar. Keen and
eager, I rushed out and bought a guitar, amplifier, effects
pedals and a few books. I got it all home, plugged it all in and
then made a noise that sounded like a herd of cats all
caterwauling out of tune.
After some days and weeks of struggling and irritating my family
I decided that I needed to learn properly. The best way to learn
properly is to get someone who is already an expert to teach you.
So I went out, found someone who was an expert guitarist in the
style I wanted to learn and studied with them. I also watched my
favourite guitarists playing; watching exactly how they played
and moved their hands. I, of course, copied them (though I now
realise it's called modelling!).
With an expert teaching me, I soon became much better at the
guitar and was no longer banished from the house when I wanted
to play.
I could probably have taught myself guitar from books and from
fiddling with the guitar, but it would have taken me a lot
longer than it otherwise did. Through using a mentor, I sped up
the learning process and avoided a lot of the pitfalls, bad
habits and mistakes many self taught guitarists pick up along
the way.
Later on in life, I worked as a consultant for a large computer
corporation. Again, I was learning the ropes and was given a
mentor; an expert who already knew the system and the company.
My mentor advised and guided me through my career as a
consultant. He saved me a lot of trouble and made me aware of
all the loopholes in the companies processes and procedures,
which helped me get more pay rises and a better company car!
Whatever area of your life you want to develop in, it is
important that you have a mentor. Whether this is in your
career, your personal life, your business or your hobbies. A
mentor can speed up the learning process and help you to become
the expert and success you want to be.
So how do you find a mentor?
Well, you may know someone who is already an expert and could
approach them and ask them. You could join forums on the
Internet and find experts there (though check their credentials
first). Search for websites of people in the area you want to
learn from. You may find they have books to help you or even
provide a one to one coaching service. You can also read
biographies and auto-biographies of people you want to learn
from and model them.
Sometimes you may have to pay a mentor, whether with money or
through providing them some service or help. Other times people
will be happy to mentor you for free just to help you out. When
you become an expert you too may want to give something back and
mentor other people.
If you are looking for a business mentor, then often local
chambers of commerce provide mentors free of charge.
Professional bodies will often be able to put you in touch with
a mentor too.
A mentor will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run,
and it is well worth your time and effort to find one to shorten
your learning curve. Whatever area of your life you are working
on, business, personal or pleasure, find yourself a mentor to
help propel you forwards to the level of success you desire.
Visit Jason's Coaching
Program to get your very own success mentor.