In the epic Greek poem, The Odyssey, Mentor was a son of Alcimus. In his old age, Mentor was a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War, he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus.
It’s because of Mentor’s important relationship with Telemachus that we have the word “mentor”.
What is a mentor and what do they do?
In English, “mentor” means someone who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less-experienced colleague.
A mentor’s role is to provide knowledge, advice and resources to their mentee. It’s a specific relationship in a particular period of time, with the object of nurturing the mentee’s career path by providing guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modelling. A mentor helps the mentee explore career goals and opportunities, develop contacts, network and understand what to do to expand their business.
There are certain qualities to look for in a mentor. They must be enthusiastic about their role. They should fit your personality. They must value learning, encourage you to get uncomfortable, be an active listener, and provide feedback in a way you understand, value and act upon.
A mentor should work with you respectfully, and they need to be an expert in their field.
How do you find a mentor?
As a business owner, it’s often hard to find the right mentor. You need someone who has achieved what you want to achieve, who can you learn from, and who you can respect.
Having a mentor is a bit like having a personal trainer. They hold you to account, encourage you and motivate you. They will make you uncomfortable at times and cause you some pain, but through pain comes growth, and you will become a better person and business owner because of it.
Recently, we worked with business owner in the $50 million-plus category. This business owner felt stuck: they who didn’t know who they should speak to, who to get advice from, and, in turn, who they could mentor.
Thankfully, due to our networks, we were able to connect this client with a mentor who had been there, done that, and was able to help our client take their business to the next level.
We can find the right mentor for you. Contact us today.