Mentorship.

[insuffi]

Hey all.

I was recently listening to a lecture at my university about mentorship, and the premise of the presentation was this: mentoring should be approached as a business relationship. In my opinion, mentors are absolutely crucial to one's success; They provide emotional intelligence advice, expertise based on their experience, and an unbiased look for the outside.

While I have never really had a proper mentor myself, other than some knowledgable people I have become close with during the years, I find it peculiar that you can initiate mentorship as a business venture of sorts. Now, obviously both parties benefit from it because of different perspectives and different strengths, but I have always assigned a kind of parental vibe to my mentors, rather than viewing them as potential business partners.

I am of the opinion that the reason why I have not gotten a hold of a mentor yet is because I have been passive about it. Experts suggest one to be aggressive and bold, when on the lookout for a mentor.

What has your experience with mentorship been like? Have you ever had any that were in the field you aspire to work in?

[JayGould]

I got mentored in IT repair and engineering, so I have a valid opinion on it.

It's mostly a large training course with somebody to watch your back when you screw up. The experience is great, but there's always a feeling of knowing the other person is expecting you to screw up at any time, which isn't great.

[BizDev]

Definitely ! .. Most of my mentors are actually ex or future customers or employers of mine. When I started as consultant and board member (for a startup), I turned around to an ex CEO of mine who, I knew, was working as consultant and board member. Obviously we had good relationship and he had always told me to stay and get in touch when needed. He helped me answering a lot of questions until he proposed me to work as consultant for himself (basically sub-contracting some of his consultant work). So definitely a mix between mentorship and business.
Let me know if you have more questions about mentorship, a subject close to my heart (I do mentor few ...)

[kingusama92]

Mentors are excellent.

It is sort of a way to build a contact, plus the additional learning that comes along with it. At the start of your business career, you can use all the help you can get. There is nothing like getting help from someone and using it to your advantage.

Those advantages being suggested in the OP are an excellent example. This idea of not just listening, but interacting with the mentor and developing a relationship that reap dividends in the future.

[mimi8zm]

Before I started a business, I visited a couple who were friends of mine who also had businesses. I sought their advice. Although they weren't in the same industry as the business I wanted to open, I was more interested on picking their minds on how they got started and the attitude that an entrepreneur must have in order to succeed. We met regularly and they checked up on me too. It made the fear of starting a new business lessen coz I knew I had knowledgeable people I could ask advice from.
I also enrolled in a free class in a local university. Part of that program offered free mentoring from the university's business professors. That was also a big help even if the mentoring sessions were just few and far between.

[endirio]

Mentorship depends mostly on the connection between you and your mentor. I'm talking about the human connection, not the business one. My first boss was also my mentor and we're still good friends. The reason we hit it off so well was because we had compatible personalities and saw the world in a similar way. I haven't had a mentor since specifically because even though the people I've worked with were good experts in their fields, but none of them had a personality that was compatible with mine.

[Victor Leigh]

I never had a mentor before but that's mainly because I had always been a pioneer in my field. So there isn't really anyone who I can consult. However, I have been a mentor to quite a few young people starting up their own computer business. Today they have all got successful businesses. I do not claim any credit for their success but I am glad I had been able to give them a hand when they were starting.

[tulosai]

I got mentored in IT repair and engineering, so I have a valid opinion on it.

It's mostly a large training course with somebody to watch your back when you screw up. The experience is great, but there's always a feeling of knowing the other person is expecting you to screw up at any time, which isn't great.

I think mentors can be a a great building block toward success. While I have experienced the feeling of a boss or supervisor waiting for me to screw up, I have never felt this from my mentors and think a statement like this really mis-characterizes the mentor relationship as I understand it. Granted, I was never a part of a forced mentorship as part of a program, however.

I think in finding a mentor, the number one thing you should look for is someone with proven success in your field who you also get along with. I agree with others here that the human element of mentoring is extremely important. I also do think that both parties can benefit, but to be honest I have always thought of this as less of a business relationship and more as something kind that the mentor does for the mentored because it was also done for them.

Finally, I encourage everyone to be proactive in seeking mentors because I think that people are more receptive to taking on this role in general than many people would believe.

[Waynefire]

I was a mentor at the fire department and was in charge of the training department. I know these are some of the most valuable positions people can have and most helpful. Now, I just have to work on getting marketing up and running to guarantee I am able to help other people by mentoring them.

[chopman]

I have been a mentor to younger people and have helped quite a few get started in business but now feel I could use one of my own.
When I used to do my own mechanics, I was reasonably good at it but it was always good to pop round to a friends to ask their opinion as well, as two minds that know their subject matter well are more likely to reach the correct conclusion. This is why I would like to meet a successful preferably retired business person with time on their hands.
My business is selling collectors motorcycles with my own workshop and cafe.