How do you know if you need a mentor?

If you are planning your venture, or are already attempting a business start-up, and you find that yourself saying, "I wonder how other people do this? Is there a trick to this that I don't know about? If only I could talk to someone who has done this before me!", then you may benefit from a mentor.

In fact, virtually every new entrepreneur can benefit from a mentoring relationship. Although entrepreneurs are always learning, in this relationship you would be the student, since you have the most to learn.

How to identify and approach a prospective mentor.

If possible,

• identify an entrepreneur who is in business similar to the one you are planning;
• ensure that you would not be in direct competition with your prospective mentor when your business is in operation;
• look for someone who is a "kindred spirit," someone you feel could relate to you and you to him or her;
• start with someone you already know and respect, perhaps a family member or friend;
• find someone who cares about you and your success, even if their business is not related to your own in any significant way.

Successful entrepreneurs are busy people and their time is valuable. When you approach someone to ask if he or she will mentor you, you are asking for a considerable commitment. In this regard:

• Be considerate of their time. Let them determine how much time they can spend with you, unless they let you make the arrangements.
• Be very discreet and guard any proprietary information you may encounter very carefully. You must be utterly trustworthy and scrupulously honest in your dealings with a mentor.
• Be prompt, always keep appointments or give plenty of prior notice when you must cancel or reschedule.
• Be helpful where you can. Perhaps you can help your mentor out by taking over the till for an hour or by running some errands.

If you meet someone you would like as a mentor, consider giving that person a copy of the information you'll find when you click on Are YOU a Potential Mentor?