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.
For more information and to discover how to set and achieve your
goals, visit SuccessForGoalSetting.com.
(c) 2005 Jason E. Johns
|