Robert Secrest

Lighthouse 4th Pillar Blog

Finding the right mentors to help you build

This is information that is valuable to you. I have titled this post, finding the right mentors to help you build. The article was written by one of my favorites Michael Force.

The most obvious example I can think of when I think of why you need a good mentor is learning how to ride a bike.

Maybe you’re one of the few kids who just got on that bike and rode it without help. I wasn’t.

Whenever we’re learning anything, the people who help us are a major part of the reason we succeed.

The same is true of online business.

When you think about this, it makes perfect sense. You’ve had business mentors in every job you’ve ever had. These were the people who did everything from training you to telling you that your boss had custody of the kids on Tuesday nights so you shouldn’t approach him on Wednesday mornings.

Yes, as an online business owner you’re responsible for your own success. Part of that responsibility is realizing what you don’t know and finding the right people to teach you.

Fortunately, there are a lot of good people out there who have been wildly successful with their online businesses and now spend at least part of their time helping others achieve the same success.

My personal business model is based on the reality that my success results from helping other people realize their dreams. All of the best business mentors share that same mindset.

But how do you find the right online business mentor for you? After all, like I said there are a lot of great mentors out there.

There are also a lot of scam artists out there. The online world isn’t any different from the offline world in that regard.

With that fact in mind, here are some of the things you need to be looking out for when you choose your online business mentor or mentors:

• How successful has this person been? How successful is she or he now? You want someone with a proven track record who also successfully rides the fast-changing world of online business.

• What about the people who have worked with this mentor? What do they have to say about the experience, and exactly how have their businesses benefited?

• Exactly how much support does the mentor offer? Will you be meeting online only, or does he offer phone and/or in-person consultations as well? Is this style a comfortable fit for you?

• How quickly does the person respond to questions?
• Finally, is this person a good fit for you personally? Do you admire him or her for personal traits or just for business success? Hopefully this will be an ongoing business relationship. Be sure to pick someone you’re going to feel comfortable with for awhile.

Another thing you need to know is that you don’t just need good mentors when you’re starting out with your online business. I’ve been successful in this business for more than 10 years now, and I still seek out other seasoned professionals for their advice.

Going into business for yourself isn’t a matter of building your ego. It’s not about reinventing unnecessary wheels and having to do everything yourself. With an online business as with every other kind of business, your success is going to grow from the company you keep as well as from the work you do. Choose that company wisely, and good luck.

To Your Success,

Bob Secrest, 307-235-4049, robertsecrest@bresnan.net