Mentors matter

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Mentors matter

 (Source: assets.entrepreneur.com

 

Who is a mentor?

A mentor is an experienced, wise, trusted adviser. Mentors are seasoned entrepreneurs and experts who have firsthand experience and understanding of matters related to business. Because they have gone through the ups and downs themselves, they understand the problems others face and want to help. Mentors are one of the most valuable resources for entrepreneurs. They make the daunting process of building a business easier for novice entrepreneurs. Their advice can be made use of in both the planning and decision-making phases in your business.

Mentors are seasoned entrepreneurs and experts who have firsthand experience and understanding of matters related to business. Because they have gone through the ups and downs themselves, they understand the problems others face and want to help.

 

How can mentors help you?

(Source: info.insala.com

Most successful entrepreneurs share the credit of their success with the mentors who have guided them along the way. True mentors genuinely work hard to support you any way they can. And you get to learn directly from their insights and experiences, without having to refer to second-hand sources. You also get informed about the possible challenges your business might face in the future so that you can prepare yourself well to avoid them. With good mentorship you find quick, and better, solutions to your problems because you can internalise their methods and put them to use with constant feedback from your mentor. Mentors can also share their invaluable networking resources, something that significantly ups the chances of your success. And if they are industry leaders, they are in a better position to connect you with the movers and shakers of your industry.

 

How can you find mentors?

Finding free advisers can be easy for entrepreneurs, but finding a good mentor is never an easy proposition. When searching for and choosing mentors, build relations with ones who understand your business, work in your industry and have expertise in areas you need help with. You need not worry about whether they will commit to you long-term, because unlike with your board of directors, your relationship with your mentor will be an informal, personal one. So you can reach out to as many senior entrepreneurs and experts as possible and learn from them in a more casual manner.

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Where do you find mentors?

To find your prospective mentors, start by attending business networking events in your city. In Nepal, events like Last Thursday’s with Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs’ Talk, Udhyami Bhetghat, Tech Meetups, Startup Vela, Startup Grind and Startup Weekend can help you build connections with these veterans. If you are a student entrepreneur or a member of your college alumni network, you could also explore the networks built by your alumni entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs who are willing to support others also make themselves available in various incubator and accelerator programmes. So you can explore websites for these programmes and maybe connect with a possible mentor by going online. You can also use social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Quora, and so on.

(Source: www.businessnewsdaily.com)

 

How to approach mentors?

Do not hesitate to approach someone when seeking help or advice. People who have started their ventures from scratch and have become successful are mostly humble, and most would be willing to extend support. However, do your research about a possible mentor before approaching one. Find out what they can help you best with and be candid when you are talking about your problems. When the mentor understands where you are coming from, they can cater their advice to meet your needs and you will learn things quicker this way too. Be polite with them, and over time you can build a close, personal relationship.

(Source: leviamos.com)

People who have started their ventures from scratch and have become successful are mostly humble, and most would be willing to extend support

 

How to give back to mentors? 

You will have to work hard to find good mentors and the time they spend with you is precious, so learn as much as you can from them. You need to have the hunger to explore, to understand. And you need to implement what you have learned. And although we have presented the mentor-mentee relationship as though it were a one-way affair, the relationship is also a collaborative enterprise that benefits both of you. Finally, give back by paying it forward. Repay your mentors by mentoring someone else in the future. 

Give back by paying it forward. Repay your mentors by mentoring someone else in the future.

 *First published in M&S VMAG

Comments

  • Guest
    Suman Chaulagain Friday, 25 January 2019

    Hello sir,
    I have just started my IT company. I thought it was easy to run a company if you have knowledge but in fact, I came to know that just having skill is not enough. Now I realized that I have lacked so many stuff which is needed for a company and I don't know what it is. So, I with deep thought I can't run my company in this way and I need a good advisor to guide my ideas and my company. I have invested lakhs of money in the company and I can't quit.
    Hope you will help me to find a good mentor for my dream.
    Thank You.

  • Guest
    Vidhya vidhu Thursday, 04 July 2019

    A mentor is a guide. They have been there, done that, and are passionate in building businesses. Mentors help you navigate through specific challenges as they would have come across in the past and they may have solutions to most of your problems or challenges. So having them on-board with you, will certainly help you navigate those issues or challenges, rather than failing and trying to break your head and still taking wrong decisions. Mentors need not be right all the time. But the right mentor with the right intentions can add immense value to your business growth. Just see if they will be able to spare, dedicate some time to guide you through. You can have an engagement that can have some commercial component just to ensure that the commitments are honored as expected or agreed upon.
    For mentor services visit http://www.startupxperts.com/how-to-find-the-right-mentor-for-your-startup/

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Guest Thursday, 28 March 2024