Find a Mentor

Choose your mentors wisely. Mentoring is not counseling. It is guidance in the form of teaching and support provided by someone you trust, usually a teacher, a parent or relative, a supervisor, coach or a counselor. Attached is a list of characteristics we believe the best mentors possess:

Fair - in their assessments, judgements and expectation.

Enthusiastic - excited about helping you pursue your goals. Look for a mentor that is willing to share that excitement with you and help you stay on path.

Inspiring - always keep you moving forward and stretching your current state of limitations. Finding someone that inspires you and others will keep that focus.

Able to identify strengths and weaknesses - that can determine what your strengths are and also know how to offset some of your blindspots and weaknesses.

Able to stretch their mentees - a mentor should challenge you daily to be better than you were the day before.

Both demanding and supportive - always challenges you physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.

Straight forward and decisive - someone that you can have candid conversations with and don't have to 'pull punches' with during your one-on-one meetings and discussions.

Willing to express gratitude for a job well done - someone that supports your goals and objectives.

Willingness to share knowledge, insights and ideas - someone that can provide solid, documented success and insight.

Still learning themselves - find mentor that is continuing to learn more everyday. No one has it all figured out and a mentor should be someone that is continuing to sharpen their minds and experiences as much as you.

Open and accessible- Make sure your mentors can be easily accessible, especially early on in the relationship.

Appreciative of the opportunities they have been given - Find a mentor that is grateful for the mentors they have found along the way and appreciate of the things their life has brought to them through experiences. The happier they are, the happier you'll be!