Don’t let your mentors confuse you, biz isn’t all that complicated: sell 1 thing to 1 person you don’t know, then repeat. Best case, get faster at it along the way and make sure the product/service remains compelling.
Mentors are great so long as you don't confuse them to be CxOs in your biz. Remember your biz is your biz. Seek advice and use them as sounding boards or SMEs. If your mentoring outlook is picking some ones brain, make sure u pick the parts u need vs the parts they aren't using.
Stay away from tittle inflation when looking for mentors. Look for quality of human being.Look for some one with high EQ & empathy. In my experience the best mentors I've had are the kindest ones @ large. It starts by being kind enough to lend you their time followed by headspace
Just because some is perceived to be successful at some thing doesn't mean they make for a good candidate to help u. Some one who inherited a biz from generational wealth, masquerading as an entrepreneur likely has little to no idea about hustle or bootstrapping, choose wisely
Similarly some one who came from banking doesn't necessarily end up being the best resource for a fintech as their mentor. Look beyond the branding and focus on the individual. A mentor is some one youd be happy to spend a transatlantic flight with vs some one u wouldn't.
Some one youd look up to vs some one who u are forced to interact with. Deep generalists make for far decent guides and mentors vs retired specialists. People who've done one thing all their life are as boring or predictable as the guy who only knows how to make Sunday breakfast
Mentors who have bet their money on entrepreneurs & helped them grow vs those who are at every MAS(mutual admiration society) event are worth their weight in equity. Any one who has used corp money on other people's ideas whilst employed at a big firm is at best a good manager
Don't confuse successful managers with successful mentors. Look 4 those with skin in the game vs not. Angel investors who have multi threaded investments across entrepreneurs & geographies make for profound mentors. They are battle hardened vs the guy/gal who is still celebrating
'citi' 'unilever' 'insert name of bank or cpg' glory days. Institutional pride is good. But institutional delusion should tell you that these people have not moved on. In being an entrepreneur the biggest skill 1 needs is the ability to pivot n be happy in the new choices u make.
Sincerity is key when choosing who to work with. The most sincere ones are the ones that seek you out for time and dispense quality advice every time they engage with u. Vs those who would rather take a selfie and ensure every one knows that they took out time to make time for u.
Avoid the ego maniacs & the selfie babas. Avoid the mentally trapped & the ones who have too much money yet little directionality. Some people are professional mentors like professional startup competition founders. Both are akin to pageant divas with little to no other interest
Self interest is the worst kind of interest a mentor can have. Weed them out. Be patient and be kind you too shall find the mentor u need vs the mentor u think u need. Make sure there is some thing on offer for the mentors time. Respect is greater than equity. Self awareness too.
Any mentor who is sourcing ideas from you vs working on your problems and concerns is future competition. The one skill you must develop in working with mentors is the ability to see why they want to help u when there is no commercial interest involved. If you can't answer that
Then it's time to move along. Like a good book/poetry the intent should be clear & visible to u at the onset. If it's not you need to keep looking. Mentors are not coaches but the best mentors teach u how to coach your self out of your toughest challenges.They empower vs handhold
Only the very lucky find the right mentors it may seem like it's the luck of the draw but you can surely go prepared to the fight. Every one loves the prepared. Even luck. @rebootdude @YusufJan @Huk06 @Ash_Kalim @raza_matin @SaadGH @ZMoosaPK @fmsheik @babushka99 @TalhaIzhar
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