subject: What You Should Be Looking For In A Internet Marketing Mentor [print this page] What You Should Be Looking For In A Internet Marketing Mentor
An intelligent business person recognizes the need for fresh opinions that can objectively look at their work and identify the areas that need improvement as well as the elements that represent your strengths. This serves to heighten your awareness of how to become a more effective business person. It is truly rare to see a person who can step outside themselves and evaluate their work with clarity. For that reason many people seek to establish a mentor within their profession.
A mentor is simply defined as one person helping another achieve something. It is a relationship formed on the basis of attaining a secure forum for the protg to discuss problems and circumstances within the work environment without fear of reproach. Our innate fear of failure can incapacitate our most precious talents. The mentor is a person that offers non-threatening criticism and advice.
I have made a list of the most desirable qualities in a mentor. You can use this list as a reference point to evaluate the potential of a prospective mentor.
How much time does this person have to devote to helping me? If the person you have selected is too busy to give you a dedicated amount of time daily/weekly then all of the other qualities are useless. Let's face it, we all have hectic lives but if this person is never available how can this person benefit you?
Obviously you want someone who is good at what they do but a good business person does not equate into a good teacher. To teach someone you need to communicate your thoughts effectively while demonstrating patience. The teacher is responsible for ascertaining what motivates the pupil.
Does this person demonstrate the type of character I find desirable? A mentor is a role model for the protg and therefore should mirror your ideals. Mutual respect is critical to the mentor/protg relationship.
The mentor you choose should inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals. They should be optimistic and positive in their approach to addressing your issues. Think of them as your personal cheerleader. A mentor encourages personal growth by empowering you with the ability to see your true capabilities.
How knowledgeable is this person? You can have all of the previous mentioned attributes but without experience directly pertaining to your business then the mentor becomes nothing more than a glorified motivational speaker. The potential mentor should bringsolid business know how to the table. You need someone who has been there and provides insight into how they conquered situations.
Can this person be honest with me? This seems like such a simple task, right? Ask a friend if they think you need to lose weight and see what kind of response you get. Often we are afraid to be truthful and feel we are doing the other person a favor by withholding certain information. A mentor should be open and honest about their thoughts and opinions as they pertain to your work. That is why you should only choose a mentor that you are not emotionally tied to. Emotions can disable our ability to be honest.
A diligent appraisal of your potential mentor will circumvent future problems and prevent future set backs.
