How to Find a Business Mentor

I came across an interesting article on a website for Joan Reynolds, who has been in the real estate business for 30 years. The title of the article that caught my eye was: How to Find a Business Mentor in 5 Easy Steps. Sounds interesting right?
 

What is a mentor?
A mentor is essentially someone who has more experience in business than you. A mentor can help you navigate the difficult waters of starting a business, owning a business, business strategy, and everything in between. For an entrepreneur, a mentor can give advice, provide networking connections, or simply be a friend when things get rough.

Why is it important to have a mentor?
For your own sanity and the health of your business, investing both your time and thoughts into a mentor relationship can be worthwhile. Remember, a mentor is someone who is essentially a soundboard; a person who you talk to about those important decisions before you make them; someone who wants you to succeed and does whatever they can to help you achieve your goals; and encourages you to pursue your goals while advising ways to avoid conflict or friction. 

The article on Joan's site goes on further to describe five easy steps to find the perfect mentor. We've just highlighted them here, but encourage you to read the entire article at:  http://www.wingwire.com/comments/Reynolds2863/null/68460  

Step 1: Reach out to your family and friends for advice ... (a fine place to start)  
Step 2: Strive to make connections beyond just family and friends, even using social media (a great idea) ...
 
Step 3: Look out of the box when searching for the perfect mentor ... (some good suggestions here) ...
 
Step 4: Once you’ve chosen a potential mentor, ... schedule a time to meet with them. (useful suggestions listed here) ...
 
Step 5: Once you’ve become acquainted with your potential mentor ... (good suggestions on how to bring up the subject of their potential mentoring you) ... 

QUESTION: How would you recommend approaching a potential Mentor?

Mentoring: How to Be an Effective Mentor

In having worked with a number of people who have either been Mentors or Mentees, I've noticed that there is almost always interest in improving the quality of the relationship. That's one of the things that we address in the dozens of video interviews that we've done over that years ... in asking how these individuals feel that the quality of the relationship could be improved.

Side Note: While many of our video interviews would be helpful, here is one that features a good friend of mine, who recently retired after many years of effectively working with both Mentors and Mentees in a government organization ... Please click on his name to view the video of my friend, GLYNN WILLIAMS.

For those who are acting in the role of the Mentor, here is a portion of a longer article that can be found on the Website for the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) -  the provincial gateway to help Albertans plan and achieve educational and career success! It provides information for career planning, post-secondary education and training, educational funding, job search, labour market trends, and workplace issues

Over the years, I've had opportunity to refer many people to this site for career related information. It's a great resource that is worthy of further exploration.

Mentoring: How to Be an Effective Mentor

At some point in your career, you may be asked to become a mentor. If you’ve benefited from a good relationship with a mentor, you know that mentoring can make a positive difference in a person’s career.

You could be approached either by someone seeking a mentor (known as a mentee or protege) or through your organization’s mentoring program.

As a result, you might be asking yourself if you have what it takes to be an effective mentor.

What is mentoring?

Mentors are experienced, trusted advisors or counsellors who have successful careers and proven track records. As a mentor, you make a commitment to support and encourage your mentees as they pursue their career goals. Mentors are not usually paid for their services.

We also encourage you to read the entire ALIS article which can be found at:

http://alis.alberta.ca/ep/eps/tips/tips.html?EK=12433

The Legend of Naupaka

We've been very interested in Stories that Mentor, and have a few new video clips that are coming into that area of our YouTube Channel over the next few days. While this story doesn't directly relate to 'business' it does have a very timeless message that we can still learn from today. What makes this one so interesting for us is the way that we discovered it! We trust that you will enjoy it too.

One of Hawaii’s most famous legends is built around Naupaka (Scaevola sencea), a shrub found in the mountains or near the beach. The flower has a very unique shape, and while it is a complete flower, it truly appears to be only half of a flower, due to the arrangement of its petals. Early Hawaiians developed stories of the flower being the incarnation of an ancient native Princess who was separated from her lover. There are several versions of the Naupaka legend, but all have a similar theme: lovers that are separated forever, one banished to the mountains, the other to the beach.

It was a warm Hawaiian evening. The soothing rhythm of breaking waves drew our attention from the busy pace on Waikiki’s main drag, Kalakaua Avenue. We had recently arrived in Honolulu for two weeks of vacation in this tropical paradise. Only a few days here and my wife and I were already enjoying the warmth of the islands and it's people.



As we took in the seascape from one of several park benches, a local gentleman struck up a conversation. He had been sitting on a bench nearby. Obviously ‘hard on his luck’ he said that for several years he had been a tour guide. He then began listing several 'must-see' attractions that visitors should take in while on the island. Very helpful, yet it was obvious that the years had not been so kind ...

Continuing, he asked if we were familiar with the legend of Naupaka. As we were not acquainted with the story, he asked us to wait for a moment as he quickly proceeded to search for something in the flower beds, close to where we were seated. A few moments later he returned with several small flowers carefully held between his fingers. Gently, he placed them in the palm of my hand. "Notice their unique appearance," he said. "See how each flower looks like it is only half there."

( "Naupaka" image source, noted below.)

And from there, he began to tell us the story ... the Legend of Naupaka.

Many years ago there was a kind and beautiful Hawaiian princess by the name of Naupaka. Usually very happy, the people of her village noticed one day that she had become very sad. Fearing for her health, the villagers spoke with her parents. Her parents then approached young Naupaka and asked what was troubling her.

With sadness in her heart and between tears she confessed, “I have fallen in love with a young man from the village, but Kaui is not of noble birth—he is a commoner.” (Now this was a big problem. It was Hawaiian custom that members of the royal family were not to marry those of common birth.)

Not knowing what to do, Naupaka and Kaui searched for a solution to their predicament. Traveling a great distance, they climbed a tall mountain to seek the wisdom of a well known kahuna - a wise elder who lived at a heiau (temple). After listening to their story, he too was unable to solve their problem. “I can do nothing for you,” he told them, “but you should pray. Pray, here at this heiau.”

And so they prayed. They prayed with great sincerity and many tears, for their love for each other was true. Now, as the young lovers prayed, rain began to fall and lightning filled the sky. Knowing that their time together was over, with heavy hearts, Naupaka and Kaui embraced for one last time. Princess Naupaka then took the small white flower from above her ear. Tearing the flower in two, she gives one half to her heart’s true love, Kaui. “If we can not be together,” she said, “You go live down by the water, and I will stay here in the mountains.”

As the two lovers went in separate directions, the Naupaka plants that grew nearby saw their sadness. The very next day, they began to bloom in only half flowers. It is said that if one were to put the two half-flowers together, so the left half and the right half touch ends, Princess Naupaka and Kaui are joined together once again – their true love having united them after many years apart.

Our encounter with the former Hawaiian tour guide was on Oahu, close to the Waikiki Aquarium and Honolulu Zoo.

Links of interest:
http://www.carenloebelfried.com/book6.html

Book: Naupaka - Written by Nona Beamer
Illustrated by Caren Loebel-Fried
Hawaiian Translation by Kaliko Beamer-Trapp
Music by Keola Beamer
Bishop Museum Press, 2008
32 pages filled with full color illustrations, cloth
(Includes Audio CD)
$14.95
1-58178-089-3

Note: Naupaka image sourced from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWFXiy0x7DMNm7_VpB2D1xBQOSelwWETUYSp7E_Hyuw-_uetQTl9r8CDWDYY80RDJJTTEm0qZlCSPKyVng5t1eoQuDcLfPov1wB1mcG9iU4p2o8cjgpIvSFIX6QFrUOwtHYLNvYdFE9g/s400/1web+naupaka.jpg