subject: Learn From Others - Get A Mentor And Broaden Your Horizon [print this page] I think that I have learned a lot in my lifetime and still have a long way to go. I love learning and finding out everyday about new things, ideas, easier ways to do things, tricks, tips etc. I also think it is important to share information with others if asked to.
I have been fortunate in my lifetime to be around several people who have been very giving of their information and have asked for nothing in return except to use the information if I choose to do so. This is called mentoring and these people are mentors.
Typically the information that you receive from a mentor is information that took them potentially years to acquire. So if someone give you information, they are saying that they believe in you and that they don't want you to waste years of your life trying to get information that they may be able to give you in minutes.
The interesting thing about a mentor is that you never know where you will find them. Sometimes they are people you work with, sometimes they are people that you know through a friendship or sometimes they are compete strangers. Sometimes a mentoring relationship happens and both sides don't even know that there is a mentoring relationship.
A mentoring relationship happens when you don't know something or how to do something and want to find out more. If you are in a situation where you are looking for information on something you don't know about and you don't know anyone who can help you, you will probably have to find a mentor who can help you. In this case, you may have to ask others that you know to see if they know anyone who can help you, or you may have to do the research on your own to find this person.
When you do reach out to a new mentor for the first, make sure that you tell them how your came across their name and why you are calling them. Depending on the person, you may get to talk to them and learn or you may have to do something in return to show that you are committed to learning from them. What this "something in return" is will depend on the situation. This might involve you getting on a plane and meeting this person somewhere, it might involve reading some information first, or it might involve buying them a cup of coffee, or whatever. Just realize the opportunity that you may receive in return.
If you are ever in a situation where you need guidance, you should look at reaching out to family and friends to see if you can attract a possible mentor. This one action could take years off your learning curve.
