Mentors are of extraordinary importance.
In general, it’s crucial who provides you with advice and whom you choose to listen to. If you surround yourself only with people who complain and moan, your chances of success will be quite limited.
You need to be in an environment that is capable, sees opportunities, and takes real action.
You must be surrounded by people who encourage you, people who have already walked the path you are on.
So, the question is, where to find good mentors?
Read autobiographies
The most cost-effective solution is to buy autobiographies of well-known entrepreneurs and to explore business YouTube channels. If you follow them for a while, you’ll eventually internalize their way of thinking. And that’s the goal – to be able to ask yourself how they would solve the issues you’re facing.
Internalize their way of thinking
The goal is that when you encounter a business problem, you can think like your mentor. You can almost summon their voice to guide you in resolving the matter.
Join online forums & search Youtube
Some entrepreneurs also join various online forums and groups. Depending on the industry, this can be very useful, especially for digital solutions – for instance, following good marketing and advertising groups can be worthwhile. Also there is Youtube. It is a tresure.
In addition to these virtual mentors – mentors you may never meet in person – it makes sense to seek out some live mentors in your environment.
Meet them on events
You can do this most easily by attending entrepreneurial events in your city or country. These events are abundant everywhere. Just do a quick Google search for “startup events” or “entrepreneurial events.” And the best part is, most of them are free. They usually start with an established entrepreneur giving a speech, and you can learn a lot from these talks. Then, there’s usually a networking session. This is a great opportunity to approach the speaker or other entrepreneurs in the audience and discuss your current entrepreneurial challenges. The best part about all of this is that entrepreneurs are generally very open and willing to help by giving you valuable advice or useful contacts.
Make a brief note about the event – who did you meet and what have you learned.
I personally started reading entrepreneurial books and watching videos at the end of high school. Since then, I’ve tried to read one book per week. I’ve learned so much from these people who are the best in their respective industries, including those I can never meet – such as Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, and Andrew Carnegie. After finishing college, I started attending entrepreneurial events. I always made a brief note about the event – who I met and what I learned. I recommend doing this for yourself as well.
Over time, by attending these events, you’ll build friendships with entrepreneurs in your area, and that’s how you’ll find good mentors. In addition to mentors, don’t forget about the environment you surround yourself with. Make sure it’s a positive one.
In conclusion, think about the people in your environment who encourage you, provide good ideas, and support you on your journey. Think about those who are doubters, cynics, and negative influences. If you want to be successful, you need to spend more time with – you know who.
