Be Thirsty for Knowledge

Everyone knows having a mentor is beneficial, but people rarely build a mentoring relationship because there just isn’t enough time. I encourage you to follow the steps of Top 1% Performers who invest time in their professional growth. Set a date and hold yourself accountable to find a mentor! Below are a few tips on finding a mentor.

• A mentor is someone whom you respect or admire who commits time to sharing, teaching and supporting your personal and professional success.
• As you look down the road of life, what type of person do you see yourself becoming? Once you identify that type of person, take a look around and see if you can spot a potential role model.
• Choose a mentor who can develop and challenge you to release your total human potential.
• Schedule time once/twice a month or even once a quarter with your mentor. Learn from his or her experiences in order to achieve your goals.
• A mentor’s wealth of experience will give you a fresh perspective regarding your goals.
• You can also develop a Passive Mentor. A passive mentor is someone you would like to emulate without having a close relationship
• A colleague can be a Passive Mentor: Study their successes with projects, processes, reports and contributions during meetings/conference calls. Take note of his/her behaviors, demeanor and approach to situations. Identify specific actions you can take to develop the same skills and abilities.
• A famous individual can be a Passive Mentor: John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lance Armstrong, Ted Turner, Larry Ellison, etc. Read their books and articles. Listen to their audio or video segments. Passive mentors are a wonderful source of continued education. The benefit is, you can fit them into your schedule while you work out or drive. Download audios to your IPOD. Feed your mind with the thoughts and actions of highly successful people

Our studies have shown that if you discuss the following items during mentoring meetings, you will maximize your time together and reap the greatest benefit from the relationship.

1. Identify specific goals for the year. Each meeting, review and confirm each goal and make any needed adjustments.Each goal must be realistic and specific.
2. Review the reason “why” each goal is important to you. The reason “why” is the true motivator for accomplishment
3. Discuss current challenges you are facing with regard to achieving your goals
4. Brainstorm solutions to each challenge. Learn from the mentors experiences, successes and failures. It is a sign of strength to ask for support. Be courageous and ask for help, guidance, ideas and recommendations
5. Identify adjustments you need to make in your behavior to not only reach but exceed your goals. What strength can you leverage? What weakness can you improve? What idea will help you stay on track to reaching your goals?
6. Discuss the Power of BELIEF. Why do you believe in yourself and your company?
   
   Belief + Thought + Actions = Results
7. Release your creativity and innovation. What do you see that your company or team does not? What one idea could make a big difference in the success of your team, company, career and life? Share it! Talk about it! Release it! It just might be the catalyst drives new opportunities for success.

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