Finding a Business Mentor... Then and Now.

The phrase "business mentor" means different things to different people. When people think of mentors, they may think of a retiree they met at their son's softball practice who gave them some pointers on dealing with car salesmen. They may remember an older neighbor who started a business and whose brain they've picked at the block-party. They may recall the experienced businessman who took them under their wing and taught them all about clients and business relationships; someone whom they wouldn't think about making a decision without consulting.

The first two examples probably best describe advisors. But the third best describes a mentor. Advisors are valuable, yes. And you should try to learn what you can from them. Few people can resist: "I've admired what you've done. Can I take you to lunch and ask you a few questions?" Remember, at that meeting, keep your questions specific. The answers will be that much more valuable.

A mentor relationship is much deeper, more personal and longer term. They aren't working with you to make money or to boost their egos, or to be able to claim volunteer time on their resume. They work with you because they are interested in helping people. And they want to help you succeed.

The stereotypical mentor is a gray-bearded guru who remembers what life was like in days gone past and wants to help you avoid mistakes he made. While this certainly describes some, the important thing is that they have far more experience and connections than you, and have already been where you are going. Now, keep in mind that if you're starting a small service business, you may not want a mentor who is a senior executive at a large manufacturing plant. The skillset he's developed may have little to do with the problems you're facing. You need someone who has worked businesses like yours and who has made many of the mistakes you hope to avoid.

Finding a mentor will be a long process. You can't just go out and recruit someone to be your mentor; you have to let that relationship develop over time. Networking can be a good start. Make a list of the successful people in your community. Ask them to lunch, or just ask them for a quick 20-30 minute meeting. Head to luncheons, seminars, and conferences in your area. You might want to join your local chamber of commerce and check out a few of their meetings. The local Rotary or Toastmasters club is a good source also. There, you can meet fellow members, introduce yourself to the guest speakers. In just about every city, you can find business and leadership organizations that are dedicated to helping those who are willing to meet new people. Join them and network, network, network.

Soon, you'll start to develop the business and personal relationships that will move you forward. This is when a mentor can emerge. The process of finding a mentor is less about directly working on it as a problem and more about putting yourself in the position to allow such a relationship to develop.

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