The age-old story goes: when you think you don't need someone to support you, that is actually exactly when you need them.
You need a mentor in the good times and the bad times.
We can’t predict what the future holds for our personal lives or business, but we can control who we have in our lives and how much of an impact we allow these people to make.
A Mentor During Good Times
Most people think a mentor during good times is quite unnecessary, but this is simply not true.
In good times, your mind is open. It’s clear and receptive to suggestions and discussions, sharing experiences, and at the same time, providing valuable feedback.
This is when mentoring can support you and give you guidance, direction, confidence and help you focus on the task at hand.
A Mentor During Bad Times
In tough times, we often think that we've got to deal with the issues that are hitting us head-on.
But sometimes those issues are not the main problem. We tend to metaphorically get on a treadmill, and we’re so focused on keeping going that we sometimes don't see the wood from the trees.
Mentors can help you by giving you clarity and giving you another perspective. They will ask you the hard questions as to what the real issues are.
But in bad times, there can be a lot more stress and a more challenging environment surrounding us. This causes us to not necessarily think straight, and we need someone to talk to in confidence who can understand our perspective.
Whether they are silly or otherwise, these erratic ideas or thoughts should be on the table for discussion. A mentor has the capacity to set you straight, and you can trust their judgement.
Choosing the Right Mentor
Collaboration means alignment of values and respect. Therefore, it’s imperative to know yourself before you can ask others to align with you.
Additionally, just having someone for their name is not the goal. If your morals and values aren’t in alignment, the outcome won’t be in sync.
Take Control Of Your Own Life
At the end of the day, it's you who has to come up with a solution.
A mentor can only guide you and shepherd you to a position that allows you to be able to determine where you want to go and what you want to do.
No person is an island. You’ll have different mentors throughout your life. Age is no barrier, and people from different walks of life provide cross-industry knowledge.
As a mentee, you get out what you put in - and this is critical, anywhere in life.
You need to do your own personal internal work to know that you are walking the right path to achieve what you want. But there’s no way you can do it all in isolation.
Key Takeaways
People often think that mentors are seasonal: we need their guidance when things are going wrong to get us back on track to when things are going well.
But mentors are valuable through all stages of life and business.
Sure, during the tough times they ask us the hard questions and help put things into perspective. But during the good times, we are more open to discussions and feedback, and it’s the hard work you do during the good times that can prepare you for the bad times.
You need to be critical when choosing a mentor who is right for you, who aligns with your values. And to do this, you need to do your own internal work to be able to know what your own values are.
You get out what you put in, so focus on identifying who you are and the type of mentor you need for a successful partnership.
