Why you should get a mentor.

By Manzi Prince Mugisha

According to most successful gurus and businesspeople, a mentor is one of the most significant factors in their success. Who is a mentor? Simply put, a mentor is anyone who has already walked the same road you plan to walk and can actively help you speed up the process. Most people look for mentors that help them grow from a business perspective. Getting different mentors to help you grow in various aspects of your life is fine. It can be business-oriented, sports-wise, spiritual, or even mental. Today, I will share a few reasons why you should have a mentor.

• They've been there and done what you have done or hope to do

Let us make the explanation more practical so that you understand. You want to start a coffee shop. You will obviously look for a person with a renowned coffee shop and try to know what it took for them to get where they are. One thing you have to keep in mind is that they also started where you have. Their only advantage over you is the ideas and solutions they came up with to solve various problems and the networks they have created in that business (I will elaborate on the latter as we move on with this topic). This is what you need. It would help if you had someone to show you what is right and, in case you have messed up, how to go about it.

• You can talk to someone who is an unbiased third party.

It is a great blessing to have a mentor closest to you. It can be an immediate family member or a relative. It is a blessing because not everyone can have such people. In some cases, however, it might be a hindrance. I say this because sometimes, they may consider your personal feelings when providing feedback. I am not saying you shouldn't have one. If you already do, keep it that way. But look for someone you feel who is willing to provide facts disregarding your personal feelings. You may feel uncomfortable initially, but as the relationship grows and strengthens, you will realize that harsh feedback may build you and helps you face your true self.

• They have a whole different network of contacts and connections that you don't.

This point may primarily apply to those seeking mentors from a business perspective. Back to the example we started with, the owner of the renowned coffee shop may know people that supply the best coffee beans in the country, have the best coffee machines, and so on. They have swam with the big fish, which may come in handy once you decide to move to the next step. However, do not expect to meet the first time and get those contacts immediately. Personally, if someone approached in that kind of way, I would see them as competition. What you want to do is build the relationship. Let that person see you not as a competitor but as one who wants guidance. Once you have spent time together and the connection has been built, they will not hesitate to share their networks with you, and trust me; those networks will boost your business to the next level.

Once you consider these factors and know the value of a mentor, you will be willing to go ahead and start looking for one. Another final aspect is that a mentor increases your speed in terms of development. Once you have the right mentor, you have condensed your time frame. You can achieve that you would have in five years in just one year once you find yourself the right mentor. More reasons for finding the right mentor will be shared in my next article. Stay tuned.