Find a mentor

A mentor can accelerate your growth.

A mentor gives you permission to try something big and fail at it if you have to, and tells you that he is there to save you if you screw up. 

A mentor nudges you and pushes you towards doing things you will not do on your own. A mentor short circuits your mental processes that stop you from growing.

A mentor, however, can only give you what you are ready to take. Most people are not ready to let a mentor take the reins and lead them into something they are not capable of getting to on their own.

And it is fine. People take their time to get ready, to grow, to understand what success means for them.

I wanted to find a mentor since I was in high school. I did not. I used to write in my diaries every year that I want to find a mentor this year. It didn’t happen. I know now why. I was too stubborn to accept what anybody said to me. I was always right. I had my head up my ass.

How could I find a mentor?

It took a phenomenal coach, who I encountered at Landmark, to make me realise that. And this too happened only when I became coachable. Opened myself up to coaching. Following this, I found many mentors in my life, guiding me in different aspects. 

I had a mentor in my martial arts training. I found business mentors. I found mentors who guided me in personal matters. Life changed!

How can you find mentors? I recommend informational interviews. 

Here is what you do: approach 5 people like who you want to become 5 years down the line. They must be at least 5-7 years ahead of you in their career trajectory. Ask them for one on one meetings, or if a meeting is not possible, ask for a call. 

You can ask for this meeting over an email, LinkedIn message or even WhatsApp if you have their number. You can follow up over a call. This is the crux of the message:

I am researching on xyz career and I have heard great things about your work. Would you give me 10 minutes of your time? I just want to ask you a few career-related questions and it would help me to strategize my career moves better. I will come to a place of your choice at a time of your choice.

That’s all. If you write to 10 people, 3-4 at least will respond. That’s enough success rate. I am ready to write to 10 people to get one yes. Mentally, you should be prepared for that too. If you can’t handle rejection and criticism in life, you will get nowhere.

Make sure you get to speak with at least 5 people in total, no matter how many doors you have to knock.

When you meet them, make sure you ask these 5 questions and write down the answers:

I want to become like you. This is where I am today (briefly describe where you are). What are the things you think I should start doing? What could I do to increase the chances of my success?

What are the biggest challenges and difficulties you have faced in your career journey? What were the big turning points?

What could accelerate my career growth? Any ideas?

What are the pitfalls and mistakes I need to avoid?

Can I call you once a month and update you about the things I am doing, and just get 5 minutes of advice?

That’s it. You need to follow up later with what you are doing as well. That is how you find mindblowing mentors.