5 Mentors You’ll Need To Have Along Your Entrepreneurial Journey

By June 12, 2015News

Contrary to popular belief, asking for help is actually a good thing. But, what exactly does this mean?

It basically means you open yourself to constructive criticism in order to grow.

Let’s say you went to college for four, six or 10 years because you value education.

Do you graduate and stop learning?

You go to work, do work, then come home, watch TV or go to the gym. Repeat. Then what?

Many think going out on your own, creating your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is all too risky, and it can be.

That is, unless you have some guidance via mentorship.

While going out on your own is the riskiest, technically, there are other ways to advance your career.

If you are at work wondering what’s next, and contemplating an entrepreneurial move, take a look at a few different types of mentors who may benefit you.

Mentor #1: The Entrepreneur.

This is the mentor who encourages you to think big, the one who says “Why not?” instead of “Why bother?” and encourages you to go for it.

This person is not afraid to take risks, and will help support you from a personal and business level. They know what fear feels like.

Find one of these by asking through your network and reaching out with social media.

If you’re lucky, this person may see enough potential in you and could end up as your business partner (mine did).


Mentor #2: The Assh*le.

This is the person you must have on your team in order to be successful.

Whereas the entrepreneur encourages the “Why not?” thought process, the assh*le plays devil’s advocate and contrarian.

Personally, it’s been a struggle to identify why I need this person in my life.

Sometimes, I let my dreams get ahead of my visions and actions. Having this mentor in my life clarifies those thoughts.

This mentor has proved essential to keeping me grounded, centered and focused on goals that matter.


Mentor #3: The Matchmaker.

This is the person who has all the connections and is not afraid to make them if you prove worthy.

This person is outstanding at identifying talented minds and putting them together for collaborations.

Frequently, he or she can be heard saying wonderful things about certain people, CC’ing you on the introduction and watching his or her own network grow.

Be careful, though, as their reputation depends on your performance after the introduction.


Mentor #4: The Manager.

The most unpredictable variable in the world is simple: people.

The uniqueness of managing people is impossible to fully master in all situations, and each year hundreds of books are written on leadership and management.

This mentor is absolutely critical in your business life, as you will have unique situations popping up that they may have been in before.

The manager is also essential for looking at the big picture and the culture of an organization.


Mentor #5: The Field Expert.

There has to be someone in your current field for you look up to.

In my life, this was a coach at our high school who introduced me to multiple forms of strength, speed and power training, along with my current mentor who is crushing the fitness business and has plans to take over the world.

This person is excellent in the details, and his or her execution levels rival the top 1 percent in the world.

Oftentimes, they are surrounded by outstanding thought leaders and business managers.

One potential downside to this kind of mentor is they may struggle to be able to help you individualize your plan to take over the world.

They’re often so specialized at their own business, it’s hard for them to customize their advice or others.

In summary, I am unsure of my future path to go from point B to point C, so perhaps there’s a new class of mentors that will emerge in my life.

As for you, with the perfect blend of mentors, you’ll certainly learn how to better navigate your journey.

If you’re interested in learning more about getting excellent mentors and growing in your business, here are some excellent resources:

E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber, “Give and Take” by Adam Grant, and “Peak” by Chip Conley.

Written by: Kevin Dineen Source: www.EliteDaily.com

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THE MARK CONSULTING & MARKETING