If you’re looking for a mentor and can’t find one, don’t lose hope. I was pretty lost when I first entered the business world. I had no mentor. I had no guidance. I was on my own.
Then a few years into my career, a manager took me under his wing. He taught me what I needed to do to get to the next level. Even when he left the company, he still made time to meet with me. I was lucky. For a while at least.
If you have a mentor, that’s great – take advantage of that opportunity. But you don’t need a mentor to go have coffee with. You don’t even need one that you can call and ask for advice on the phone.
Authors who write books can be your mentor. Podcasters can be your mentor.
When I struggled as a new employee in corporate America, I read The Go-Getter: A Story That Tells You How To Be One by Peter B. Kyne and Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin.
When I became a manager over ten years ago and I had no idea what I was doing, I discovered the Manager Tools podcast. I listened to over 500 episodes. More importantly, I applied what I learned.
When I wanted to run my own coffee roasting business, I read countless books on the subject. I taught myself how to make the best coffee I was capable of making. I went back to school and got my MBA so I could not only create my art, I could sell it and know how to run a business.
If you want to improve in any area of your life and you feel stuck because you don’t have a mentor, change your mindset.
The world’s best mentors, found in books and audio, are there waiting for you to discover them.
Excellent advice. Great resources.