Benefits of Having a Mentor

Success takes commitment, patience, a thirst for self-improvement, and no small sprinkling of luck!

One of the defining ways to give yourself the opportunities to succeed is to work with a mentor; they'll be your teacher, your confidant, your guide and your friend, all in one. Mentorships are undisputedly powerful. It's little surprise that some of the most influential people in the world tie their achievements back to a solid mentoring relationship.

Let's look at the four most compelling benefits of having a mentor and why it's an opportunity never to pass up.

Access to Knowledge and Information

There is a saying, we don't know what we don't know. A mentor is a fast-track route to enhancing every aspect of your knowledge, with chances to network and add value to your learning journey. Your mentor can teach you all the things they don't cover at school, maybe things like:

 ·       Dealing with strategic decision-making.

·       Building a business plan from the ground up.

·       Pitching your ideas with confidence.

Importantly, their knowledge comes from a place of hard experience, so you can step out of the theory books and into the real world with an experienced guide to steer you.

Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses

 Interestingly, in a study by Olivet Nazarene University, a massive 76% of people recognised the importance of a mentor - but only 37% had one.  An experienced mentor sees the world from a different perspective - they'll spot challenges and opportunities that you can't see.

Even the most self-aware of us often struggle to have an unbiased opinion of our strengths and weaknesses. It's tough to be impartial about ourselves! Mentors won't flinch, and they'll tell you straight where to focus your energy to improve your prospects.

Stimulating Personal and Professional Growth

Having a mentor isn't about copying what they do, thinking like them, or trying to replicate their success. It's focused on giving individuals the capacity to create themselves and use their raw talents to carve out a road to fulfillment.

That could involve:

·       Goal setting - in personal relationships, communication skills, as well as in business.

·       Values - determining what matters to you most.

·       Character - defining the unique qualities that you should embrace.

Personal growth is just as vital as professional opportunities, and a cohesive mentorship opportunity will help you grow in all the right areas.

Encouragement to Ride Out the Rocky Patches

Keeping going when the water gets choppy is the deciding factor in life. It's what separates the go-getters from everybody else and means that you dare to pursue your goals, even when it feels like an ongoing uphill struggle. Many mentors will cite discipline as one of the fundamental qualities you'll require. They'll help you build the resilience to keep going, even if the only beacon of hope is the one you're shining.

Moral support, encouragement, and guidance are excellent tools to help you recognise that you can achieve whatever is asked of you, both in the sunshine and the rain.Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.