Having a mentor is possibly one of the best things I've discovered and has happened in my life.
Sometimes I wonder if I had not had this kind of person next to me when I started in the world of entrepreneurship, if you have gotten to where I am today, and if you could be reading these words I'm writing.
Although every time we talk more of this kind of "coaches" on most pages read daily about business I feel that not delve into the topic enough, or do not give it the importance it really has.
In this article I will tell you what a mentor, the 5 reasons why we urgently need one if you want to become an entrepreneur, and you share some details of my experience with mine.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a coach, a teacher, a guide or counselor who is willing to invest their time and share their knowledge with someone who is starting in a given sector.
There mentors in many different fields: business, careers, professions, or even emotional, spiritual or sports guides.
The relationship with these "professors" usually voluntary by both parties. It is not a profession that study at university.
It is rather a kind of person who, thanks to the knowledge and skills acquired in their work field, advises you and shows you the possible paths that exist.
That is the basic definition given to explain what a mentor; but in fact this person - if he is a good coach - is much more than that.
The mentor is someone who will offer their wisdom, advice, and support; He is not a person who just observes and tells you what to do in specific situations in your daily work.
I decided to take a mentor to get started in the business world when I quit my job because I was tired of others imposed I could win and how many hours he had to work.
I was lucky to find a great person who guided me on the right track. Without it, he would certainly have failed and fallen into the typical mistakes that all newbies make in its infancy.
I was not instructed in typical business issues or give me boring lessons about accounting or finance. Instead, I challenged.
I encouraged me to think for myself and resolve questions - sometimes too hard - I posed as "what do you do if your company suddenly loses 80% of sales and lose all the benefits you'd get it?".
I served as a source of wisdom when I needed it and who fully trusted.
And that is precisely one of the most important features that should have a mentor. The relationship with him or her can not have one sense: both must trust each other.
If you do not trust your mentor, if you do not believe 100% in its teachings, or if he does not believe in your abilities, that's not a mentor: it is just a teacher or someone who passes on his knowledge.
11 features that have great mentors
The great mentors, which will be impossible to forget once you end the relationship with them, and those who will teach great lessons not only in business or in your career, but also in your life, are those who have these characteristics:
- Show interest in your success.
- They have the same interests as you.
- They focus on helping you be the best you can be.
- The great mentors do not compete with you, but try to complete yourself to be better.
- They are not afraid of your winnings or feel threatened by them.
- Des guide you to the first steps towards achieving your goals.
- You motivate and excite you when your lows want to quit.
- They help you see your potential that many times you can not see.
- The great mentors are an example to follow, and set an example with their habits and behaviors.
- They help you think for yourself so that when they are not you know you make your own decisions.
- They offer their respect, do not treat you like you're an inferior to them.
5 reasons why you need a mentor urgently
A mentor will train you
Mentors will train and prepare you for change because, admit it, whatever path you choose, there will be obstacles in it.
The economy today does not move only on the basis of hard work, but also thanks to do it intelligently.
You must choose wisely your people, your relationships, your processes to create business opportunities and strategies.
And a good mentor will help you become smarter in these issues through his wise counsel.
A mentor will motivate you
Mentors refine and transform your vision to see the world. They provide ideas and thoughts that will challenge you and allow you to see beyond your circle of influence.
Amplify your horizon to increase your abilities and your skills. You rise to the top to make your shoulders are your platform.
But what it is most important: you will be motivated at times when you feel weak, lost, or about to throw in the towel.
A mentor will challenge you to be better
The mentor will get push you to go further. He will not let you stay stuck where you are; and to achieve this, you will challenges to go farther than you ever have imagined.
Yes, you might get kicked in the ass, but it will be to make you take a step towards your success.
Will guide you get to learn that there are failures valuable lessons that will serve in the future, and will go with you hand in hand through all these experiences.
A mentor will protect you
The mentors are great when you stumble, take your hand to get up and go any further.
You will protect and try to prevent fall into the same mistakes they made. They will teach you how to navigate in a world that sometimes seems that there is only mines to explode at every step.
And they achieve that take smart decisions for your company when they are no longer thanks to the lessons they have taught you.
Their advice will keep for you forewarned not toxic relationships with people that will destroy your business.
They will do everything in their power to protect you from anything that can hurt you or your venture.
A mentor will give great lessons
A mentor not only share their best tips for your career go on track: also give you valuable life lessons.
The good mentor uses his stories and perspective to paint pictures of what is possible for you.
And thanks to this, you'll build a stronger personality and mindset that will last for the rest of your life.
Finally, a mentor will never give up on you. He never stops believing in you, encourage you and motivate you when you need it most.
If it's really good, will assume the vision of his protege (ie, you) until you get to make it a reality.
