Mentors can help you succeed

A mentor is invaluable in the entrepreneur's life; he or she will guide you and show you different ways to approach a situation. A mentor is chosen for his experience and wisdom.

The concept of mentoring goes back to ancient Athens. The term "mentoring" comes from Homer's The Odyssey, in which the character Mentor was a tutor to Telemachus. She guided Telemachus during his travels in search of his father.

Nowadays, in Singapore's schools, a 'buddy' system was practise, whereby, the senior student will help the junior student or students espcially those in Primary One (7 yrs old) to guide them before the assembly and during recess time to teach them to read, guide them and even assist them in purchasing foods during recess-time. The 'buddy' groups, just like the mentor, is a critical part of that support system.

Most successful business people have also built a support system around them. The mentor is a critical part of that support system.

Identifying a mentor is not difficult if you know where you are going and what your needs are. One of the greatest compliments you can give is to ask a person to be your mentor, because you are telling that person that you value his advice.

Retired business and professional people make great mentors because they usually have time and often are looking for an opportunity to help. Look for people who have built successful careers and have some time on their hands.

One of the most important jobs of a mentor is to critique your work, so you must be receptive. Many people get defensive when their work is critiqued, and they see it as an attack. You must be able to handle the criticism, because when it is given constructively, it will foster growth.

As my career has evolved, so have my mentors. As I began my business life, I needed someone to give me encouragement. As my business developed, I found that I needed advice on management, finances, hiring, training and retaining employees.

If you don't have a mentor in your support group, start looking!

Stop back next week and meet another part of the support system: The Coach.