I met up with an old friend a couple days ago and we had a very intense conversation about a couple of topics, but one which caught my interest the most was the topic about entrepreneurs and their similarities. We highlighted that all successful entrepreneurs have certain qualities in common, some of which include; passion, tenacity, resilience, optimism and perseverance. However, upon waking up the following morning, I tried to remember the conversation I had the day before and tried to re-evaluate the similarities we pointed out. That was when I remembered a very vital similarity all successful entrepreneurs have that my friend and I didn't think about.
While the later will definitely help you achieve your goals, I realize you need extra to maintain and sustain your goal which for most entrepreneurs would be their business/company.
One of my favorite quotes states;
"Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are,
Show me your role model and I will tell you who you can be,
But show me your mentor and I will tell you who you would be."
MENTOR-SHIP can never be neglected in the life of the entrepreneur with the Midas Touch. The role of mentor-ship can never be over-emphasized. Your mentor and your role model are two distinct roles. A role model is someone you admire and would like to resemble, either in looks, deeds or accomplishments, whereas, a mentor is someone who has achieved what you want to achieve and is willing and available to take you by the hand all through the phases till you achieve your desired success and would be there for you even till death do you part. While you might not necessarily have direct access to your role model, you must have a means to communicate directly with your mentor. Role models could be for a while, maybe till a certain age, but mentor-ship is a lifelong relationship, similar to parenting.
All successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-billion dollar businesses all have mentors. We have the likes of Robert Kiyosaki (my role model), Donald Trump, Steve Jobs etc.
Entrepreneurs who desire to be successful must all have one or few persons mentoring them. Personally, I have a couple of mentors and I must confess, a good mentor makes the journey easier and faster. A mentor is someone who has gone through the process and knows what each of the challenges you face feels like and so they know how best to advice you to tackle the challenges. Your mentor doesn't necessarily have to be an expert in your chosen field, but your mentor has to be someone you are accountable to and can push you, encourage you and inspire you.
"If you know where you are going, you can get there even without directions, but if you have a mentor take you by the hand, you will get there faster"
However, no matter how good your mentor is, you won't know his/her worth if you're disobedient. Its one thing to have a mentor, its another thing to listen and adhere to the advice of your mentor. Your mentor doesn't necessarily have to be older than you and this is quite a big challenge most especially in this part of the world where age literally controls and determines how people relate with one another. Its really not about the age but about the experience and exposure the mentor has. Its ok to have more than one mentor so their roles compliment each other but most importantly, make sure you get yourself a mentor who is capable, willing and available to work with you.
One major thing a mentor would do is to inspire you which in turn would spur you to be motivated.
Motivation comes from within but Inspiration comes from Without.
Motivation is like rest, you need it everyday.
You must have a mentor who can inspire you, scold you, connect you, connect to you, advise you and help you grow.
Look around you, there are mentors everywhere but get someone with a Godly heart so you don't get used and remember to do your research about your mentor before you proceed.
Watch out for my post on how to pick your mentor. Do have a great week ahead.
Think WITTEE! Think Intelligence...
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