Hi, I'm Chris Edwards and you're listening to good business. Welcome to this week's how to episode.

Today's episode is all about how to find a mentor, I put it out on Instagram and I had a lot of people vote on this topic, it's something that is a real need to find the right mentor. And it is difficult. It's all about finding the right fit. And it has taken me gosh, 13 years really, before I found someone who was incredible fierce, but I've had a lot of mentors along the way. And I'm really looking forward to sharing my learnings with you. But first, let's just take a step back. And what I really want to start with is really defining what is a mentor. So a mentor is someone who's going to provide you guidance or advice or feedback, it's someone who might serve as a role model or a counsellor, or potentially an advocate and an ally. mentors provide all the tools for you to become a better version of yourself.

So it sounds a lot like a coach. But there is a difference. The difference between a coach and a mentor is that a mentor is a real soft term or more relationship focused form of guidance, as opposed to a structured, tailored approach that a coach often takes. And the other big difference is in a mentorship. It's the mentee that's responsible for driving the sessions and steering the relationship. So how do you find a mentor?

Firstly, I think you need to identify what is your gap? What is it that you're really struggling with, that you need help with? And who in your I suppose universe or world of network would be the perfect mentor, and it could be someone that's totally out of reach. But it's good to aspire to who would be the ideal mentor, and really think about how can I kind of move into circles in which they would be I suppose, moving in. For me, I really wanted to find someone who had created their own media company from ground up and successfully exited that business.

I actually had a coach who helped me that and it was really an amazing piece to break through. Another piece is really specific things like I've had people coach me in SEO, and I've had people coach me in public speaking. And those two skills in particular have been game changers for me. So how did I find these mentors? Really, I think there's been two strategies for me. One is I have attended speaking events, where the mentor has been a speaker at the event, and I've just come up to them after the event and engaged with them. So I'll come up and just say, hey, I really love what you said about, you know, whatever topic they spoke about, it really spoke to me. And I'll just start a conversation, you know, like, just ask them a few more questions, and really just engage and build a rapport with them. And then I might follow up that same day or the next day with a LinkedIn request. And maybe a day later, a message on LinkedIn, asking them for whether they'd be open to having a conversation or whether there have availability to do any coaching or mentoring. So that's, I've done that, I think twice. Now. Another way I have found mentors is I've just lost my network of friends and family. So I often will share what it is that's challenging me in my work, just really naturally, just sharing this is really challenging right now. And friends and family will say, Oh, you really should talk to such and such and hit them up for a call, and I'm sure they'd love to help you. So they've been the two ways that I have found mentors.

So what are some of the things that you need to think about when you're engaging a mentor? Look, I think there's three core things. One is I think he needs to be really clear about what it is you need help with. So be clear on your ask. The second thing is you need to be the ones during the conversation. So you need to have a plan of questions for when you catch up. And sometimes I would even suggest sending those questions ahead of the meeting so they know what it is you want help with. And the third thing is I think you have to be open to hearing some feedback that might be challenging or uncomfortable. I know in my own journey, there's really been some massive leaps of personal develop Man, and sometimes I have had feedback or suggestions that really, I suppose a different to how I would naturally approach things. And there's always some friction there. But once you acknowledge the friction and accept it, I personally have seen the growth that's come out of it.

And the last thing is, please share in the successes. So as someone who is a mentor to others, I love it when mentees reach out to me and go, Hey, we won this or this came true or you know what you said, Well, your advice worked. So absolutely, please pop your mentor note, it's a really great way for them to feel rewarded in what they're giving you, which is really to share in the success.

That's all for this week's how to episode thank you so much for listening, and I hope today's episode was helpful.

If this is the first time you're joining us, make sure to follow good business. For more how to episodes, I've got a whole heap of topics lined up. And I'm super excited to share things that I've learned in my entrepreneurial journey that have really moved the needle for me. Also, we've got a tonne of stories from the region's most impactful Heartland businesses coming up and you won't want to miss them.

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Before we close out I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which I'm recording this podcast, the Iraq War people of the Bundjalung nation and I pay my respects to elder's past, present and future and extend my respects to all traditional cultures.

Thanks again for tuning into good business. My name is Chris Edwards and I'll catch you next week.