Find a Mentor

I had the privilege last week of speaking to one of Clint Waltz’s classes at The University of Georgia. Clint is a great friend and green industry leader in the turf grass arena. One of the main things I shared with them was the importance of finding a mentor as soon as possible. Here a few thoughts on finding a mentor:

1) It’s never too early to find a mentor, or mentors, and establish a relationship. Target someone that has already done what you are trying to do. 

2) Find someone that is solving big problems and making a massive impact. This is exactly the kind of person that you want to learn from. 

3) Do not get discouraged if someone turns you down. The timing may not be right for them. I recently had a potential mentor reject my offer to send him periodic email updates. Thankfully I have plenty of others that were more than willing to help. 

4) Once you find that person, make them an offer that they can’t refuse. Put yourself in their shoes and do everything possible to make it worth their while. When in doubt, simply ask them what you can do to return the favor. 

I am so thankful for all of the people that have helped me and I will always do my best to return the favor to the next generation.