How do you balance network mentoring with your other professional commitments and goals?

I like to think of the film "The Karate Kid" to show the benefits here. The film follows Daniel who finds himself feeling alone and isolated. He befriends Mr. Miyagi who teaches him karate and along with several life lessons. Throughout the film, Miyagi serves as a mentor to Daniel, sharing important lessons and experiences regarding discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence. The relationship illustrates the positive impact that a mentor can have on a person's life. Importantly for me, the film shows how mentoring can be a two-way street. Daniel teaches Miyagi the importance of letting go of past traumas and finding inner peace. This in essence is the benefit to both parties from a mentoring relationship.

I can personally vouch for how network mentoring has helped me to grow my professional network and expand my business connections. Through network mentoring, I have been able to tap into a diverse pool of mentors who have offered me different perspectives, insights, and opportunities for my professional development. For example, I have connected with industry experts, business leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs who have shared their experiences and provided valuable advice and support. Building and maintaining relationships with multiple mentors has exposed me to new opportunities, contacts, and resources that have helped me advance my career and pursue my interests.

Overall network mentoring can benefit everyone involved, with my experience the more networking you can conduct the chance of return is very high. Growth and resiliency have been in many conversations I have had the pleasure of being a part of. Professionally I have grown this last year by being more involved with Veteran organizations and now looking to be an Ambassador. Lastly I have built relationships that have helped me become a better father and being consistent in bridging gaps for our Youth and our Military veterans. One is none, the Team wins every time. #buildtheteam

I've been fortunate over the years to have a few, of what I consider to be, "foundational" mentors; individuals whose guidance and tutelage helped me navigate particular stages of my career, and the challenges I was facing at those times. As I've moved on to different roles, and even different organizations, I've made a point to keep in touch with these individuals; essentially building a mentoring network. Each one has unique insights into who I was at certain points in time, and whom I evolved into over the time we were directly connected. Because of this, I value their historical perspectives as I look to new opportunities and face new challenges.

A “board of directors” is the best developmental approach. In this way growth is symbiotic where everyone on the board grows personally and professionally.

I have used several mentors to help me achieve my professional and personal goals. In my experience, finding mentors can be done through various sources, including online platforms and professional associations. I have also found that networking through local business organisations, such as the chamber of commerce, can be a great way to meet potential mentors. I have also asked for recommendations from my LinkedIn contacts and researched mentors in the industries that I work within. When I started my business, I interviewed leaders within my industry to gain insights into their experiences and see if they had a mentor. This helped me to identify potential mentors and understand how they could help me.

I joined a mentoring program at the local university, although I had long since graduated. This program was just what I needed, as it was a structured program with goals / time lines / training on best practices for the mentor and mentee. It's given me the confidence to engage outside the program to build my mentoring network.

I agree 110% having mentors will help you align your values and goals. Sharing your experience will also show others that you are willing to collaborate and be a part of a bigger team. Mentoring takes patience and empathy with those attributes you can inspire others to step into the Mentor/ mentee realm.

It can be tricky to balance to desire to mentor, with the demands of your "real"job - but it is possible, if approached with organization and desire to help. I can relate a story about how this is done via Lila's story. Lila was a busy executive with a demanding job, but she always had a soft spot for mentoring young professionals. To balance her desire to mentor with her "real" job, Lila created a structured program. She offered one-hour sessions on alternate Fridays, created a clear curriculum, and gave clear expectations. She also ensured that her mentees knew her schedule and always confirmed their sessions in advance. With this approach, Lila was able to help her mentees achieve their goals while still excelling in her own career.

Balancing network mentoring with other commitments can be challenging, but respecting your mentor's time and managing your expectations is essential to ensure a successful mentoring relationship. One critical aspect of this is to be clear about your goals and objectives from the outset. You may need to establish clear goals and objectives upfront, so your mentor knows what you're hoping to achieve and you can measure your progress. For those working with mentors who don't charge a fee, it's equally essential to respect their time and availability. You may need to be more flexible and accommodate their schedule when arranging appointments or meetings.

Relationships, relationships, relationships! We learn through our relationships, including network mentoring, find our career opportunities through network mentoring, friendships, referrals...My best network mentoring currently is with my peers, including our monthly intention group. We find our informal network marketing to go around our virtual circle. We have made a commitment to be there for each other and to be available outside our monthly meeting.

When I met with my mentor, we would have a location, agenda and time frame set for the meet up. We were very clear about expectations of the mentor relationship, and it has been great. It's important to show respect and gratitude.