A good mentor can be the difference between success and failure for most entrepreneurs. While failure can be a good teacher, it’s much easier to learn from someone that’s already been there, which a mentor can provide in spades. But what are the most lucrative means of mentorship?
We asked four entrepreneurs what kind of mentoring opportunities they have found most useful over the years and why. Take a look at their answers below and start getting mentored today!
The Unexpected
“I’ve found the best mentoring was unexpected. The people who fell into my life that I learned from wasn’t planned per se. I learn whenever and wherever I can. The best mentoring opportunity is being open to knowledge and always absorbing and learning along the way.”
– Angela Delmedico of Elev8 Consulting Group
Hands-On Mentoring
“My favorite mentoring opportunities are always the ones that let me get out into the field and get my hands dirty, so to speak. I learn more being faced with direct challenges than I do sitting down and chatting with someone, so having the chance to go side-by-side with a mentor and watch how they do things has always been invaluable to me.”
– Steven Buchwald of Buchwald & Associates
Mentoring in Subjects You Care About
“In my experience, I’ve found the most interesting mentoring opportunities in something that I truly enjoyed, not a stepping stone that could lead to where I wanted to go.”
– Ajmal Saleem of Suprex Learning
Coyote Mentoring: Gently and Covertly Coaxing You Beyond Your Comfort Zone
“In certain circumstances, it is vital to get direct instructions from your mentor. But often times, the result of your most powerful lessons reveal themselves later. When you are faced with a challenge that you mysteriously know how to handle, when something just clicks, you think back to the learning moment (that at the time, you didn’t realize you were having) and realize what your mentor did.”
– Emily Nhaissi of Craft & Root