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About a month ago, I had a post asking if you had a mentor, and shared some of my thoughts about being assigned the roll of a mentor. On the flip side, a mentor can be a super positive thing.

First of all, what role does a mentor actually play? Well, my definition would be someone you trust and/or admire who is available to you for counsel and advice. That could really be worth a lot, huh?

The problem is, it may not be that easy to find such a person! Here, let’s discuss a couple of tips for finding that person who can have your back when you need advice or motivation.

1. Know what your looking for. I think the first step is to know exactly what you are looking for in that person. What kind of advice are you seeking? Business?…….Relationship?……..Spiritual? This is important, because you’ll want to get good advice and counsel, and the mentor will probably get something from the role as well.
2. Actively seek someone. In my opinion, the best mentor relationships will just happen. But you can’t sit around and wait on that. You may just happen to meet the right person who takes an interest in your success, then again, you may not. Don’t hope to find the right person, make it happen.
3. Know where to look. Sometimes the best mentors are not in the most obvious places. Take for instance, the movie the Karate Kid. I’m sure Daniel wasn’t hoping he would find a handy-man at his apartment building to become his mentor. A good mentor could be a successful neighbor, someone on the management team where you work, someone you go to church with, or someone who is just one of your friends who you think could help you. Keep an open mind, but only consider those whom you think know their stuff. Everyone has had a mentor at some point, whether realized or not. What kind of person were they? What was your relationship to them? That may be a good place to start.
4. Ask someone you admire for a referrel. You may know someone you have a lot of respect for, who’s not really available for any number of reasons. They can likely pass you on to someone else, who could be just the right person. You don’t have to say “I’m looking for a mentor”. Tell them your obstacles, and that you need some advice. That’s where the whole relationship begins.

Regardless of how you find a mentor, I think it’s important to have one. Everyone is faced with decisions that are hard to make, and situations that are hard to deal with. Having someone who wants to see you do well, there guiding you along can keep you motivated and confident!