#Day 5: 7 DAYS PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGE

Challenge: Get a Mentor!

Mentors are like headlamps they help you see the road ahead.

Whatever endeavour you are about to embark on, someone has successfully done it before and has made the mistakes you may be making and knows exactly what to do in such a situation. Mentors are not always people with whom you are in direct contact with. A mentor could be someone that you read their books, contact them via email, watch their videos…

Read; The secret highly successful people know that you don’t know 

According to Yourdictionary, a mentor is someone who guides another into success. A mentor is often times more experienced than the person he leads. A few benefits of having a mentor includes;

1. 1. Improve in performance/productivity.
   2. You can benefit from their knowledge.
   3. They guide you/give you a sense of direction.
   4. They introduce you to business associates

Do not antagonize your mentor if he hasn’t introduced you to a couple of people or if you haven’t been able to gain monetarily from him. These aren’t the sole reasons why mentors are there, in fact, ‘money & contact’ are added advantage to the reason why you should have a mentor. Although, a seasoned career mentor should be able to tutor you properly on ways to get money and also how to meet people within your field.

Read; Deep Thoughts: The principle of great performance 

Mentors are not self-imposed. Mentors can take interest in you, which is great but most times we don’t value such mentors because we didn’t seek them ourselves. In choosing a mentor, you may want to ask yourself the following questions;

1. 1. Is he/she a leader?
   2. Is he/she disciplined?
   3. Is he/she a person of character?
   4. Can you learn from him/her?
   5. Does he/she listen?
   6. Does he/she have results in the field you are seeking mentorship?

Ensure you conduct your research properly as mentors can be a defining point in your career. How then can you get a mentor?

1. Offer your help

Mentors are pretty much busy people. Remember we said mentors are people who have gone ahead of you. So I expect your mentor to be busy. In getting his attention ensure you let him know that it will be a mutually benefiting relationship and not a parasitic relationship. Offer/volunteer your time/service even if it is for a short period of time after all mentors aren’t paid. We often feel that mentors have all the money in the world, so we usually don’t consider buying a gift. Next time buy a gift irrespective of how little it may be.

2. Ask friends to recommend you

Chances are you may have a friend who already has a mentor or a sister/brother that can mentor you. So ensure you speak to people about your goal to find a mentor.

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3. Have an open mind

It is very easy to find a mentor anywhere; on social media, in a seminar, at a conference…Also, a mentor may be younger than you but do not forget the goal is to learn. At such points be as open as possible and be willing to learn. Mentors don’t like people that think they know it all.

When you approach a mentor for mentoring be sure to mention that you are ready to learn. No need to show off because if you are meeting them for advice there is every likelihood that they know more than you, else why meet them in the first place. I am sure you know it’s very annoying when someone comes to ask you for your help and then they go right ahead to tell you that if not for the condition they won’t be asking for help or something like that. Politely ask for your Mentor’s help without reeling out all your certifications, your many pedigrees, if he needs to know he will ask and in the long run he will know.

When approaching a mentor, introduce yourself briefly, you may not need to ask them to be your mentor directly. You can get their contact. Ask them for advice once in a while, apply step one of getting a mentor and the rest follows due course.

Get ready to be rejected: Not everyone you approach may accept to be your mentor. If you are not in direct contact with your mentor be ready to spend money on calls if your mentor resides in another country. Also, if you receive mentorship through books and podcast be ready to spend money. Be ready for criticism when you show your work to your mentor.

Have a productive week!