What do you do if you need guidance from mentors and advisors for your innovative endeavors?

Everyone has different starting points, so most importantly it's good to remember that you just need to start: 1. Don't be afraid to admit if you don't even know what your needs are yet. If that's the level you're at - then start asking them how to best identify your needs. 2. If you know your needs, then identify other mentors or resources that can help you address those more specific needs before. 3. Look at your needs to mentorship as a system. Not everyone may be able to support you in all of your areas of need so remember that you can have more than one mentor. Create a circle of mentors.

Establish a rapport with your mentors and advisors by demonstrating genuine interest in their insights and experiences. Offer to meet for coffee, schedule virtual meetings, or attend any events where they're speaking. Building a relationship takes time, so be patient and consistent in your efforts.

Business mentorship is different than mentoring entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business. If you have an established business then you have many moving parts and having someone who has been there to mentor you and talk to about the many aspects of the business is the traditional mentee led approach. It's different for many first time founders (entrepreneurs) as they don't know what to ask a mentor or to put it another way, they don't know what they don't know. This leads to a different mentor approach, a mentor led approach where the mentor helps they focus to the key aspects at this stage such as idea validation and deters them from building brands and products too early in this discovery phase.

Understanding your business needs is crucial before seeking out mentors and advisors. By identifying areas that require guidance, you can target the right individuals who can provide valuable advice to help your venture succeed. Whether it's marketing, product development, or financial planning, knowing your weaknesses and seeking help in those areas can make a significant difference in the growth of your business.

Consider putting together an advisory board. Find people who can either act as industry experts to guide what you're building and open doors, or who can act as a mentor to you. Typically such positions are paid or equity based.

You are 6 people away from anyone in the world, a Bill Gates or Elon musk. List the name of people you think can be good mentors Use linkedin to find connections to your mentors. Pro tip: Mentors can also be passed away Their books is a way to connect with them

Begin by cultivating relationships with individuals who possess relevant expertise and experience, showing genuine interest in their insights and wisdom. Prioritize offering assistance and support to them first, demonstrating your commitment to mutual growth and collaboration. Actively listen to their perspectives and needs, seeking ways to contribute value to their endeavors. By nurturing these relationships and fostering a culture of reciprocity, you create an environment where both parties benefit from shared knowledge and experiences, ultimately propelling your innovative efforts forward together.

In a room if everyone thinks the same Then someone is not thinking. You need multiple opinions to be able to see the full spectrum of possibilities.

How to have effective engagement with your mentors and advisors: - Monthly updates via newsletters, articles, decks - Have a common whatsapp group if possible and constantly ask for feedback on things you want to implement - Even if outcome is not positive share it with them and ask for places where you can improve - Rather than them asking you a question, prepare a set of questions you want them to answer related to your strategies - Some mentors can actually be a great stakeholders and promoters of your business - if they have added value to your business make sure to offer them advisory shares for a long term partnership.

No one is going to do the work for you. Seek out time with your mentors and trusted advisors. If you can, check in with them at regular intervals. Mentors aren’t mind readers. You need to bring your needs to them regularly to allow them to give you the best advice possible and compare where you “are” to where you “were”. If you can partake in regular coaching, great! If you have colleagues that have given you good guidance in the past, keep up with them. I check in with a handful of trusted folks quarterly and am in a mastermind that meets weekly. Worth its weight in gold.