There are mentors, then there are “dream list” mentors. Dream list mentors are the mentors you’d pick if you could choose any mentors on the planet. Landing these kinds of “dream list” mentors takes audacity and connections. But it’s certainly doable. ==> How Facebook Landed Bill Gates When Facebook was still in its infancy with…
It’s common for people who’re looking for mentors to try and look outside their own circle of influence. After all, it’s hard to believe that millionaires and successful business people could be just one connection away. Yet that’s more often than not the case. In fact, your best bet for finding mentors is usually your…
We’ve all heard that having business mentors can help you develop yourself and grow your company. But what is it exactly that these mentors can do for you? How can they help you move your company along? Knowing exactly how you want your mentors to help you move forward can help you find the motivation…
Most people approach potential mentors in completely the wrong way. As a result, most people have a lot of trouble getting mentors to help them out. When you’re approaching a mentor, there’s one thing you need to keep in mind. This one thing is what will set you apart from all the other people competing…
When most entrepreneurs look for mentors, they tend to look for generic “business mentors.” People who can help guide them on their path to success. However, entrepreneurs often forget to look for niche mentors. Often times looking for niche mentors is better than trying to find a general business mentor. ==> What is a “Niche…
One of the best places to find mentors is in your business’ investors. Investors are typically high networth individuals who’ve already experienced business success on their own. Their experience, knowledge and skills can help you avoid pitfalls and make the right decisions in every turn of your business. ==> The Money v.s. The Expertise When…
Mentorship relationships don’t always have to be formal relationships. Sometimes they can be as simple as “if I have a question, can I send you an email?” relationships. While individually these relationships might not change your life, having a whole rolodex of these kinds of mentors can make a big difference. So how can you…
While some mentors will come and help you out for free, other mentors will be “paid.” Usually for startup companies, these kinds of mentorship opportunities are compensated through equity rather than through cash, as most startups don’t have all that much cash on hand. If you’re working with such mentors, how much equity is a…
One unique form of mentorship that’s open to entrepreneurs is incubators. Incubators combine traditional investing with a streamlined mentoring process to help take beginning entrepreneurs to a successful exit. What is an incubator? Is incubator mentorship right for you? Let’s take a look. ==> Incubator Basics An incubator is a business coaching program run by…
A mentoring relationship should be rewarding for both sides. If only the mentee is getting something out of the relationship, chances are the mentor will soon opt out. It’s common for mentees to think that they have nothing to give back to their mentor. That simply isn’t true. Though you might not be able to…