Most people think that finding a mentor is as easy as scrolling through your Facebook friends and reaching out with a well crafted email.
But that’s completely wrong.
Your mentors actually choose you.
In this video I’ll tell you what you need to do if you want to find a mentor who will invest time and energy to help you advance in your career.
Very important topic. I’m a product of having the right mentors. It’s like standing on the shoulders of giants. I’ve also had the privilege of being a mentor. Being a mentor is very rewarding when people take your advice and follow up with their achievements.
Hi Brian,
Thanks for another great lesson!
It even applies in the corporate world.
Twenty years ago, when I started my architectural career as an intern in a large firm, you had to find (or were assigned) a mentor/sponsor who would sign off on your work hours each month. (experience hours required to be eligible to take the professional exams)
More times than not, you’d only see that mentor once a month when you’d chase him or her down with your paperwork. You’d usually get, “Sure, got a pen? ::scribble-scribble:: Here you go! See you next month…”
I don’t even remember who that was for me. Looking back, my true mentors were the ones whose projects I poured my heart into to make sure they were a success. To make them look great.
As you said, they saw my efforts & tireless hours and chose to help me succeed when the time came.
I certainly hope your younger readers and others who stumble across this lesson take it to heart. As the proverb goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Thanks for everything Brian.
Brian, I agree with you 100%. I have found this to be true with anything in life. You must give before you will receive. Give with no expectations of receiving anything in return – not an alternative motive, design, or plan. Far too few people practice this virtue. Thanks for your insight.
Really enjoyed this video. I never met Jim Rutz, but I worked extensively with his brother Bob Rutz. Bob helped me with a direct mail package that sold a newsletter to Dentists. (The Profitable Dentist) it became the largest private newsletter in the dental industry. Our seminars were the largest private seminars in the dental industry. I’m sure Jim helped on this project. I’ve never met Jay Abraham (we’ve spoken on the phone) never met Gary Halbert (only on the phone) I know Dan Kennedy,… All these people (and many others) have been more than giving. It is stunning how giving, helpful, and caring they all have been. Thank you Brian… and like it or not… you’re a incredible mentor to people like me!!
Thanks Brian – this has been very thought provoking to me and gets to some of earlier questions that I posed to you about how you have and make the gifts to others. I really appreciate your sharing.
Brian,
When I watched this video, the proverbial glass shattered … Looking back, I realize this is exactly how I started relationships with people I consider mentors without even realizing it.
I used to own and operate a small pet supplies and services business, and whom I would consider my top two closest mentors I met through this service-based relationship (they brought their dogs in to my store to be groomed, and every time I’d see them, I’d make recommendations about special things their dogs might like, offered great, personalized service, and that opened the door to conversations about things in common, which led to regular coffee chats, which inevitably led to discussions concerning business advice, connection referrals, etc.)
To add to your point, I wouldn’t say I was providing them amazing insight or in any way contributing to growing their bottom line, but I was serving them, excellently, in a way that was meaningful and important to them through the trusted care of their dogs.
It really is as simple as thinking about how you can help make the other person’s life better through some form of service, not expecting anything in return, and more often than not, it will be reciprocated.
Great stuff, Brian!
P.S. – Loving the video format! Your personality really comes through even more. And, I think you’re really going to appeal to a vast, broad and diverse young audience that desperately needs the wisdom you can impart.
Awesome video & topic. Glad you’re liking video, it feels more personal than just audio.
Here’s my story…
When I was still working at a day job that I hated, I was contributing to a contest inside a copywriting community called Copy Chief. Every few weeks, there’d be a podcast called Truth About Marketing, and we’d be competing to see who can write the best show notes bullets.
I ended up winning the contest, and as Kevin Rogers was sharing his feedback for everyone who competed, he said “man, I could really use some help with (something about podcast) *contagious laugh*” and I remember I said said to myself, “Hey, I could do that for him…I do that all the time.”
That was my “Aha!” moment.
I ended up asking him if I could do it for him because he needed help. And that I’d be happy to do it for the experience. I meant it, I genuinely like the podcast and want to help him tell other people about the stuff he does.
Fast forward to 3 months after working at my day job, I built the courage to quit my job to go full-time freelancing. I’d been working hard with Copy Chief and took the leap because I had Kevin and Ross O’Lachlainn teaching me and mentoring me through the process.
I never directly asked them either. It just happened organically.
Shit, I remember I would be so excited because I got an hour of their time…which I know is worth a lot of money. To me, it was all worth it. And it paid big time.
It’s a lot like “Contribute to connect,” and for me, it was one more thing — Specializing.
Being specific about how I could help (rather than being vague or too general) was a good way to stand out from everyone else who wants their time and attention.
Thank you Brian. This is a challenge for me…to recognize what I have to offer as opposed to what I don’t have. But Tim Woo’s right. Sometimes the thing we forget we’re actually good at can be a real asset to someone else… like someone we really admire and would love to learn from.
I’m working on my own “asset inventory” right now.
Another fine one, Brian. Thanks.
PS: I dunno, you like pulp fiction, I guess, or think you so mentioned, now that image behind you of the woman with the cleavage and cigarette, it just disturbs me so, I go on listening and not watch this….but its a video, it’ll make more sense to watch than just listen.