How to Find a Business Mentor

When you’re just starting out in business, you need a lot of advice and it’s OK to ask for it.  Why you might not always find the support you need from family or friends, the best way to get this help is to find a mentor.  A Small Business Administration study shows that business owners who had three or more hours of mentoring experienced higher revenues and stronger growth than those who didn’t.  While people might think of mentors as those who guided them when they were younger like a school teacher or guidance counselor, entrepreneurs shouldn’t look at it this way at all.  You are never too old to have a mentor and, in fact, it’s key in business.  A mentorship doesn’t always have to be a formal relationship.  Sometimes it can be more informal, like a friendship but either way having a role model to help you succeed in business is exceedingly important.  It always pays to find a helping hand in the workplace.  So how to find a business mentor?

First off, ask yourself what you want in a mentor.  Is it an expert who can help you with a specific business challenge?  For example, do you just need guidance on how to ask your boss for a raise or how to conduct yourself more professionally in business or are you looking to make a career move or start up your own business.  There’s nothing to big or too small in the modern business world that a mentor can’t help you with.

If you’re not up to going to networking events yet, check out your company or your University’s alumni association to see if they have mentoring programs in place.  This is often a good place to start if you are unsure where to begin.

When you’re ready, join associations of networks where you might be able to more readily find a mentor should you feel uncomfortable doing it at your place of business.  Try joining LinkedIn groups and asking for advice there.  Strike up friendships or professional business relationships with those who are active in these groups.  They might be willing to help.  You never know who is willing to offer a lending hand.

Again, LinkedIn is a great resource for finding a mentor.  Try doing an “advanced” search for people who attended your alma mater or those who are in your field of interest, whether it’s the field you currently work in or one you’re trying to break into.

Think outside the box.  Remind yourself that a mentor doesn’t always have to be older than you.  Disregard typical stereotypes of mentorships and don’t let your ego get in the way of seeking the advice you need.  Younger people might already be on the track you’re looking to hop aboard and also, they might be more willing to help.

Landing a mentor can often be hard work so think long and hard about why you need a mentor so that you can readily convey that to people you seek to be a mentor to you.  Landing a mentor calls for self-promotion.  You must be your own biggest advocate and call attention to your accomplishments to get someone’s attention.  No mentor is going to back someone whom they don’t feel has promise or isn’t a good use of their time.  Mentors want to offer guidance to those who know will soak up all the information they are willing to provide.  They don’t want to waste their time on people who they don’t “see” something in.  Show why you stand out and why you’re a “super star” in your field and why you have potential and promise.

Additionally, it might be wise to steer clear of a formal request such as writing standardized letters to people you feel might be a good mentor to you.  Have others make introductions to potential mentors for you in an informal way.  Sending out a formal request can at times be off-putting and feel “stiff” to those whom you seek to be a mentor to you.  You don’t want to make a mentor feel like it will be hard work for them.  Most mentors take on a mentee out of good will or as a chance to “pay it forward.”  Maybe they had a mentor at an earlier stage in their career as well and want to give back?

Ask for simple advice to begin with.  Don’t ask too much of a mentor right off the bat.  Get to know them well and let them get to know you before you start asking for too much.  Develop a friendship and make the mentorship fun for both yourself and the person offering you guidance.

Show a mentor how to help you.  Sometimes they might never have been a mentor before so you need to guide the relationship.  Come up with a list of questions to ask or seek out friends or colleagues who’ve used mentors in the past and ask them how they’ve approached such a relationship.

Make it fun right off the bat.  By being informal, you can make a mentor feel more at ease and more willing to help you.  Some mentors might want a more formal relationship but instead of setting up a formal business meeting, try inviting them to lunch or drinks and start up a friendship.  People are more willing to offer advice to those they feel a personal connection with.

Always show your gratitude to a mentor if you want to make sure you keep the relationship going and want to keep them interested in helping you.  Do something for them in return.  Make the relationship reciprocal and a two-way street.

Really get to know your mentor.  If they are open to being more informal, try to indeed strike up that friendship.  Ask them how they got where they are today, not just in the business world but in their personal lives as well.  Mentorships can often turn into lifelong friendships.

Listen!  Mentors might not always have the free time to give you lots of help so make the most of the time they can offer you.  Always ask your most pressing questions first and act like a sponge.  Soak up all the information you can from a mentor.  Ask not only for advice but for feedback as well.

Lastly and most importantly, always let your mentor know what you are looking for out of the relationship.  Tell them right off the bat what your main motivation is behind having a mentor and how they can help you get where you need to be.  Establishing a set of expectations on both sides of a mentor/mentee relationship is key.

So how have you found a mentor in the past and how did you maintain that relationship?  Did you use some of the advice offered today or have you approached finding a mentor in a different way?  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!  Let’s start up a conversation!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about finding a mentor in business:

“How to Find a Business Mentor”: http://www.inc.com/guides/how-to-find-a-business-mentor.html

“3 Successful Strategies to Find a Business Mentor”: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2010/10/18/successful-strategies-business-mentor/

“Finding a Business Mentor”: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/45254

“Why Entrepreneurs Need Mentors and How to Find Them”: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-farwell/business-mentors_b_1940998.html

Until next time…

How to Land Your Dream Job

For most people, work is a necessity.  In order to pay your bills, support yourself and live a happy life, you need to have a job.  It’s the only way to survive in the world especially in a city as expensive as New York.  But ask a friend how work is going and the majority of them will respond: terribly.  Millions of Americans are miserable in their jobs.  They don’t like their bosses or their co-workers, they find the work tedious and boring, they’re not inspired daily, they feel stuck in a rut but most people are wary of leaving a steady job to pursue their dream job.  While, yes, it can be terrifying, landing your dream job can only benefit you in the long run.  It’s likely to make you happier on a daily basis and decrease stress in your life.  When you love what you do, you’re more likely to excel at it and feel that work is adding a sense of value and accomplishment to your life.  So how to take the plunge and land your dream job?

First off, the best advice I can give you is never take a job just to take a job.  In essence, while many people are attracted to jobs that pay big money, never take a job for a paycheck alone.  If you do, it might be the worst decision of your career.  Even if a job pays less but you feel you can excel, grow and thrive in it and build your skills, jump at the chance.

Network as much as you possibly can.  It might sound trite but landing a job is a full-time job and if you’re trying to land your dream job, it takes even more hard work and effort.  Talk to people in the industry you’re trying to enter and garner advice from them.  Don’t be afraid to ask them to put you in touch with people that might be able to help you.  You need to make as many connections as possible if you’re going to land your dream job.

Grow your online presence.  Follow businesses of likeminded interest on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  Join LinkedIn groups and enter into a conversation with people.  Make sure all your online profiles are professional and won’t do anything to jeopardize landing that dream job.  Employers often do their homework on prospective hires.  Be an advocate for yourself, not your own worst enemy.

Don’t solely rely on job boards.  Often jobs posted online don’t really go anywhere.  Your best bet for landing that dream job is to go through recruiters.  That said, don’t just use any recruiter.  Use recruiters that are in your corner and look out for your best interests not recruiters that solely see you as a commission.  Keep in constant contact with them and follow-up on opportunities they present to you.  Never let them pressure you into going on an interview for a job you feel isn’t right for you.  Follow your gut.

Keep your resume up-to-date.  Constantly be adding to your resume with each new skill you acquire at work.  Don’t just list what you do on a daily basis but list your achievements and milestones you’ve met at work.  Be your own advocate and think smart.  Employers want to see how and why you excel at what you do.

Don’t be afraid to take risks.  If you feel that you’d like to move into a new industry, go after it.  Don’t pigeonhole yourself into a career path.  It’s never too late to start over and reinvent yourself.  Believe in seconds chances or even third chances or fourth chances; as many chances as it takes you to get where you want to go.

Don’t overlook opportunities.  Explore every job opportunity that comes your way.  Research it and give it thorough consideration before you pass it up.  Of course, if it’s not right for you, then you shouldn’t pursue it but don’t be so short-sighted that you could miss a potentially great and exciting opportunity.  In essence, keep an open-mind.  You never know where buried treasure lies.

Let your financial ego go and don’t focus solely on salary.  Of course, you don’t want to take a job that doesn’t pay fairly but remember sometimes you might have no choice but to take a pay cut for your dream job.  With hard work and effort, there is always opportunity for a bonus and a raise.  As you settle into your dream job, develop your skills and prove yourself as a valuable asset to the company you work for, you’ll be rewarded financially in the end.

Do your homework.  Once you land an interview for a job you really want make sure you’re extremely well-educated on what the role requires of you on a daily basis.  Know all about the company and the people you’ll be interviewing with.  Go on their website and devour it.  Take thorough notes.  Research your interviewers.  Visit their LinkedIn profiles or do a Google search of them.  You might find you have common interests that will allow you to connect with them better when you do finally meet them in person.  Be prepared to ask the right questions.  This will show the company you’re applying with that you’ve studied them and have put in time, effort and thought into the interview process.

Promote yourself and be your own best advocate while on an interview.  Engage the person interviewing you.  Don’t just answer questions: yes or no.  Give thorough and concrete examples of your achievements.  If the interviewer isn’t asking the right questions, take charge in a subtle way and guide the conversation so you can really sell yourself and your abilities.

Embrace failure.  If you don’t land your dream job right away, don’t give up or be ashamed of it.  Learn from your experiences and examine what went wrong.  Remember it takes a lot of time and hard work to land your dream job so instead of getting down on yourself, stay positive and think about your next move.

Diversify your career options.  Don’t be so set on industry.  For example, a person might actively be pursuing a role in finance but be so focused that they don’t realize that the same role exists in a creative or different environment as well.  Keep as many doors open for yourself as possible.

Lastly and most importantly, don’t give up.  Dream jobs don’t just happen or get handed to you on a silver platter.  You have to pursue them with passion and realize that it could take months or even close to a year to land the dream job you’ve always wanted.  Don’t get frustrated or throw in the towel too quickly.  Keep faith and belief in yourself and stay positive.  Keep a focused mindset and don’t stay stagnant.  Keep moving forward and eventually all that hard work and effort will pay off and you will find yourself with the job you’ve always wanted, the job that makes you happy, the job that inspires you daily, the job that challenges you, the job that is, in fact, your dream job!

So how have you been able to land your dream job?  What are some plans you mapped out for yourself to help you achieve it?  What were some road bumps you hit along the way and how did you overcome them?  Let’s start a dialogue and conversation and exchange ideas!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about landing your dream job:

“Ten Secrets to Getting Your Dream Job”: http://www.anvilmediainc.com/about/digital-marketing-resources/articles/ten-secrets-to-getting-your-dream-job/

“How to Land in a Dream Job”: http://www.wikihow.com/Land-in-a-Dream-Job

“6 Tips to Help You Land Your Dream Job”: http://mashable.com/2013/04/27/work-tips-dream-job/

“New Year, New Career: How to Land Your Dream Job in 2014”: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5676-career-search-tips-2014.html

Until next time…

How to Be Authentic in Business and Why It's Important

In a growing digital business world, customers are becoming more disjointed from the companies they buy their products from and as a result, customers are looking for more from the businesses they interact with, most of all: authenticity.  Customers don’t just want to purchase a product or service, they want a total, all-encompassing experience.  That said, they don’t just want any experience.  They want a genuine, transparent, honest experience from a business that knows who they are and stays true to what they stand for.  Authenticity is important in business because it shows your clientele that you care about them and are listening to their needs.  Businesses that are authentic seem more empathetic to their clientele and this leads to your business having greater credibility in the broader marketplace.  A business is more trustworthy and likeable to clients and prospective clients when they are perceived as genuine.  When you are authentic with your clientele, you seem more upfront and honest about the products and services you are selling and this can lead to greater profitability and long-term success for your business.  So how to be authentic in business?

The first key is to be “real.”  As a business, you should know who you are and what you stand for and express that to your clientele.  To make a business profitable, you need to be passionate about what you do and how you approach your clients.  Your business should always have a motto and mission statement that it stands behind; one that shows what you believe in and as a result, the experience you want to give your customers.  While it might sound trite, the best way to be seen as authentic is to actually be authentic.

Be consistent with the messages you create, the tone of voice you use, the quality of your products and services, your work ethic and professionalism and in all other areas of business. Not only will it help your business stay on-brand, it will resonate in the minds of your customers and you will be trusted for your reliability.

Back up your claims.  If you make a promise to your customers, stand behind it and prove it to them.   A smart way to do this is by having other successful businesses and business leaders endorse you.  Create testimonials, reviews and case studies.  Display your portfolio or give product demonstrations.  Do whatever it takes to show your clientele, that you stand behind your beliefs and that you have made a commitment to stand behind them.  Show them who you are and what you say you are.

Be transparent.  Don’t hide information from your clientele.  Put out earnings reports and other key messages that show your customers that you are on target to meet their needs.  Be as honest and upfront with your clients as possible about where your business stands in comparison to competitors.  This will help build brand loyalty.

Make a connection with your target audience.  By being authentic and standing behind what you sell, your clients will see this as a good-faith effort that you are being upfront with them and that grows trusts and long-term relationships.  Once you connect with consumers, they are more likely to stay loyal to you and pass along your brand to others through word of mouth.  If you are authentic in how you present yourself, your business will grow and flourish.

Be accountable.  Take responsibility for your actions and always be upfront with your clientele.  If you make a mistake, own it and then fix it.  This will show your customers that you have integrity and that will likely make them stand behind you.  If you have an unhappy client, address it quickly and thoroughly.  Prove to them that you’re on their side.  Be humble and remember, there’s no shame in apologizing to customers for mistakes you’ve made.  In fact, it builds trusts with consumers which benefits your business in the long run.  When customers know you are willing to stand up and take responsibility for your faults and flaws, your authenticity will shine through and will help protect your reputable reputation.  Show your customers that you are trustworthy and you will indeed gain their trust and long-term loyalty.  By holding yourself accountable for mistakes, it gives your business an opportunity to turn a negative situation into a positive one.  In essence, it’s good marketing and that can only help your business grow and thrive.

Share your inspiration and this will give your clients better insight into what your company stands for and believes in.  Show your customers the path you have taken to get where you are today.  Let them share in your vision.  Show them what makes you unique and what makes you genuine.  Share the story of how you got where you are today.  An inspiring story makes you more human to your customers and likely breeds loyalty from them as a result.

Lastly and most importantly, set yourself apart from your competition.  Show your customers why you’re unique and why your vision for how you can service them is unique as well.  If you’re authentic, no one else can compete with that.  If you stand out to your clientele as one of a kind, you’re half way there.

I can’t stress enough how imperative it is to be authentic in business.  Too many businesses keep their stories too close to the vest.  If you put yourself out there and show your customers who you really are, they are more likely to trust you.  It gives them a sense that you care about them and want to build a relationship with them.  Use the advice I’ve given today about authenticity in business and your company will grow and thrive as a result.  I guarantee it!

So how have you as a business owner shown your authenticity to your clientele?  Do you feel doing so has helped your business grow and thrive?  What do you think is the most powerful thing a business can do to be authentic?  Leave a comment and share your voice and opinion with me.  Feedback is always welcome!

Here are some articles you might want to check out on how to be authentic in business:

“5 Ways to Build Authenticity”: http://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2013/06/28/5-ways-to-build-authenticity/

“How to Stand Out?  Try Authenticity”: http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-05-28/how-to-stand-out-try-authenticitybusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice

“Keeping it Authentic in Business”: http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/growth-strategies/2012/02/keeping-it-authentic-in-business.html?page=all

“Why Authenticity is Key to Growing Your Business”: http://blog.kissmetrics.com/truth-will-out/

Until next time…