In the blog post, The Hustle Struggle is Real, I had mentioned that I was going to start mentoring in June. We haven’t reached the six-month mark yet, but I already feel I have more focus and direction. My mentor has provided me with a lot of guidance and support thus far. Our sessions are always filled with lots of laughter. I like how we both have the same type of humour. I really look forward to her replies to my emails and our sessions. She really does care about my well-being and progress, which is very important to me.
With every session, there is homework, but this is homework I’m actually interested in doing, which is something that hasn’t happened since high school. I’ve been learning a lot about myself and the blog through the homework. I also feel I’m accomplishing a lot more with her than I ever would have on my own. I remember taking a few online courses from my previous job and how bored I was with the content. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not focus on it after work. It didn’t help that I started work at 6:30 am either. My only regret is not looking into a mentor sooner. But hindsight is 20/20 and timing is everything. I suppose in the past the timing just wasn’t right or maybe I wasn’t ready to take on something like this. When a mentor does take you on, you need to commit or it just ends up wasting both of your time.
Even though I have the moral support, I still have those feelings of doubt, fear, and frustration. But what part-time or recently full-time entrepreneur doesn’t go through that?
It’s normal and part of the process.
If you’re really stuck on something and have tried doing it on your own, several different ways and it’s still not working or you’re not progressing the way you want to after some time, I would suggest getting a mentor. While they are very helpful and resourceful, Google and FB Groups can only provide you with so much help.
In case you didn’t know, one of my other side hustles is teaching group fitness classes. While attending group fitness classes on a regular basis can give you results, you may want the individual attention to help you with your technique or further improve those results. That’s where the personal training comes in.
[Tweet “Having a mentor is like having a personal trainer for your business.”]
Here’s a List of Reasons as to How a Mentor Can Help You
1. They keep you accountable –They can help you set realistic achievable goals and check in with you periodically to see how you’re progressing with these goals. As much as I like being productive, achieving goals and crossing things off my to-do list; creating goals and deadlines (even though they can be flexible), scares me. I have this fear of failure even though I haven’t created the goal or haven’t started the goal yet.
It’s weird I know.
2. They can be a (B)BFF (BlogBizFriendForever or BestBizFriendForever, etc)- because unfortunately in real life (meaning offline), most people won’t get it. However, there are SO many people who get it online. Perhaps you are lucky enough to know these people offline as well. But for people who are starting out, that may not be the case. These BBFFs (buffs? biffs?)- get your struggles, hopes, fears and dreams. They’ve been there and still go through it from time to time. I think when you’re an online entrepreneur, relatability can be HUGE.
3. They can provide the tailored expertise and advice you need –Advice is everywhere, which can be both a good and bad thing. There is a lot of general advice out there. There is also a lot of bad general advice out there. Tailored, specific advice is a good thing. Just because two people have similar goals doesn’t necessarily mean you would give the exact same advice to them. Mentors motivate you, that’s what they’re there for. It’s the type of motivation you seriously can’t get anywhere else and a lot of the time, self-motivation can be difficult or even impossible at times.
4. Provide you with clarity and direction- This is what I have been seriously lacking for years. A mentor can help you focus on what’s important and help you see the bigger pictures. I decided to focus on re-branding first and postpone the side project until the new year and possibly take on another side project. I may even start the 2nd side project before the one that got postponed. But it’s all part of the business plan.
Business plan.
Never in a million years would I find myself saying that or typing that.
5. Challenge you to dig deep- This is where the hard questions get asked and it’s not always so easy to come up with an answer or the answers may surprise you. Sometimes you need that outside perspective.
My advice for getting a mentor would be to figure out why you want one, what your budget is and do your research. Contact and compare rates of several mentors. Ask questions and then ask some more questions. It can be a big time and financial investment. Not only that, it can also be a mental and emotional investment. Can you see yourself working with this person and if they could help you achieve your goals. Check out their testimonials.
What are you currently struggling with regarding your blog or business?
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Having a mentor is definitely huge! I have a mentor/friend in my career (patent law), and she is amazing. She’s a little bit older, and has a ton of great experience to share, but also young enough that we are actually friends too. I’m so thankful for her! Out of curiosity, where did you find your mentor?
At the time, I was just searching for tips and tricks on how to create a better newsletter and one of her posts came up as a result. I really liked her writing style, which prompted me to explore her site more and then eventually look into her services page. It was completely by fluke. I wasn’t searching for mentors at all during that time. Sometimes the best things happen by surprise or by accident. 😉
Hi Karen, thanks for this post! I completely agree with your stance on mentoring. It’s a key element to people’s success. I know I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors throughout my career and some have become my best friends. Mentors provide you with that extra edge and support that your family or friends can’t always provide.
Cheers,
Chiara,
That’s awesome you’ve had a lot of great mentors and have established a friendship with them. I feel the same way with my mentor too, even though I have never met her in person (she lives in a different time zone, on the other side of the country). Mentors definitely get it. 🙂