What are the best ways to find mentors and advisors for your business?

The best advice I can offer is to be proactive, strategic, and open in your search for mentors. Leverage your existing connections by letting people know specifically how they can help and what expertise you seek. Attend conferences and events to organically network with seasoned professionals, and don't hesitate to approach experienced leaders who impress you. Mentorship is often reciprocal, so think about how you can give back and add value as well. I'm a firm believer in paying it forward. There's nothing more rewarding than helping energized professionals refine their vision and avoid common pitfalls. Mentorship is a two-way street - you gain knowledge and insight, and your mentor gains the deep satisfaction of making a difference.

Think of someone you admire and who you would like to be in your professional future so that person can help you get there. Someone who knows you can be a good choice as they will help you get you where you want to go based on what they already know about you. If they know you they may be more willing to help and be your mentor and if they have seen you in action through a previous job for instance they will already know your strengths. Find someone that is willing to be your mentor. If it’s a burden for them it can be quickly frustrating. Maybe set up some regular touch based meetings with your mentor before starting and check if it works for both of you in terms of frequency and length.

Right Mentors and Advisors are not available at blink ..you need to follow them on Social Media ..give your opinions on their post ..if necessary counter with logic ..this is when people whom you Idolize start following you and ..then you touch base

When looking for mentors and advisors, consider starting with a list of competences that you need advice on. By focussing your list on the immediate need you have for advice, you will end up being able to prioritise which advisors you need. I believe you should find a process for paying the service back to the advisor or mentor, either by monetary payment of the services or potentially by offering the advisor assistance with something practical.

Always think as a Mentor yourself before seeking Mentorship from others think about your idea, goals and approaches as mentor and think why you need mentor and what you'll need from Mentor. Having it clear already, makes you get most out of Mentorship and utilities all time and resources.

“Leveraging your network” has become such a cold statement, so transactional Why? Because if people matter to you, make the time to say hi to them, let you know you’re thinking of them, asking them how YOU can lift THEM up. Don’t just hit them up when you need something. If you can genuinely care about your network then when the time comes I bet your network will come to the rescue.

Network, network, network--however you feel comfortable, whether it is in person or online. In my city (Chicago), there are many free events in multiple focus areas. Once you start attending frequently, it becomes even easier to walk into that room. Have a goal of making 2-3 LinkedIn connections during each event. (use the QR code feature to make it easy) Then, the next day, follow up and ask for a virtual meeting (include a Calendly link or similar tool to make it easy). Most people are willing to do 15-30 minutes online, but be sure you have your content right. And, offer your help or connections if you are able. Don't worry, everyone feels some awkwardness around this. Practice is the key.

Expanding your network is a game changer but needs to be treaded carefully. Unfortunately too many folks now use LinkedIn as the new “cold calling”. Make sure you stand out by just asking for connection and friendship, no strings attached. Grow your network genuinely bc LinkedIn vets will see a BS connection request from a mile away.

Networking can feel like a massive time suck, but it can propel your business forward in amazing ways. I challenge myself to meet new people very often. You never know who’s your next: - Employer - Employee - Vendor - Referral - Customer, or - Mentor Plus nowadays, you can network from anywhere! You can use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to connect with people you’ve never met face to face. Or use Airbnb to meet people in other cities or countries to get amazing experiences. Or do old-school networking at events, meeting others face to face.

Building trust is huge but it also requires one thing many aren’t willing to give: TIME. People want the “thing” they are after and not the “journey” it comes with when you take the time to build a relationship with a mentor. Do that and you’ll not only crush your goals, you’ll make lifelong connections in the process.

Join networking groups, industry organizations, local chapters for meetups, etc. and scout out who is being sought. Find out more about them, why they are attracting so much attention, what they do, how well they do it, and find a conversational way to get to know them. If you feel it's right, ask them if they know if anyone (them?) looking for a mentee (you). Explain what you expect to get from this type of arrangement and describe what they can get from getting to know you, filling a need they may have. If they are not looking for a mentee, ask them whom they know who is not only good at what they do, but great at teaching to a mentee and ask for a warm referral. Yes, this all takes guts, but I have made amazing connections this way.

I interviewed a very successful entrepreneur, Susan E. Beth, many years ago. Susan’s story is inspirational because her mentor was Fred Deluca, the founder of Subway. Susan suggested 4 questions you should ask yourself when selecting a mentor. Will they challenge and push you to be a better person? Will they support you? Are they willing to be a teacher? Do you have chemistry? Susan suggests a good mentor is not just someone you trust and can model your behavior after; they should be someone who will push you to do more. An effective mentor should be engaged to help build your skills & confidence. This could be accomplished through weekly assignments that can review and indicate where you did well and where you can improve.

Start with what you have. Define your goals. Look for the people who have achieved and exceeded such goals in their chosen fields. Go to places where these people converge. Make yourself visible. Compare and match schedules. Track and implement ideas. Know when the relationship with a mentor has run its course (growth will often trigger this) Set new goals. Find new mentors.

Always be thoughtful and intentional about what you can offer a mentor or advisor. Reciprocal relationships are usually more fruitful. Are there introductions you can help facilitate, research you can share, ideas you can offer?

Best mentors have “been there, done that” on the topic you need support. It doesn’t have to be exactly in your industry, but their experience (knowledge is not enough) has to be relevant for your need.

Finding a mentor for your business is like searching for a wise guide. Start by networking at industry events, join online communities, or even reach out to professionals you admire on LinkedIn. Craft a genuine message expressing your interest in learning from their experience. Remember, building relationships takes time, so be patient and open to the mentorship journey.