By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
How do you know you’re ready for a mentor? How do you find one? That’s what I cover in this video.
No BS Career Advice: March 23, 2025
Are you trying to find a mentor to help you grow professionally? I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter and I received an article from a man named Ken Coleman who works for Dave Ramsey, if you know that name and Coleman put out an article about steps to finding a mentor. I thought it was terrific. I thought I would share a quick summary of it.
His email address is KenColeman.com and he has other great material on his site and a very good radio show. So, he starts off by saying mentoring is pretty common. For example, he says, Harry Potter had a mentor in Dumbledore and Obi-Wan Kenobi mentored Luke Skywalker.
We’re used to the idea of mentoring for other people but not for ourselves. So, how do you find someone? And he starts off with the premise of make sure you’re ready to be mentored because, you know, you can waste someone’s time and, in my case, money if you’re looking for a mentor and you’re not clear about what you want. So, he encourages focus on growth.
The most important signal that you’re ready for a mentor is if you’re teachable. And there are many people who can provide that kind of advice beyond simply a person because you can get it from podcasts, reading, teaming up with your friends, learning from others, lots of things but the relationship with a mentor is special. Determine your goals is a second point.
What do you want to get out of the mentor relationship? Are you looking for someone that can help you become a better spouse or parent? Do you need growth in your career so you can land the promotion? What are you looking for? Make a clear plan. Is this a long-term relationship or do you want to have this mentoring over a finite period of time? Now, choose the right person to mentor you and that’s really where it becomes complicated. So, he suggests, paint a picture of where you’d like to be in, he says, 20 years.
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I encourage five, then ten and daydream a little bit. How do you want your job to be at that time? What about your family? Find someone who’s living the life that you want to live. Next, identify the important qualities of a mentor.
They should be accomplished. They are understanding. They’re caring.
Make a list of people that you know. So, he encourages you to take out a pen and paper. You can take out your iPad or your laptop or your phone and scroll through your phone contacts or your Facebook friends or your LinkedIn connections and see if there’s someone who fits the bill for you.
And then from there, he says, network the right way with people you trust to suggest other names. Your future mentor might not be in your immediate circle but they could be one introduction away. Next, put yourself out there and ask.
People are afraid to ask, he points out. He’s absolutely right. There’s a risk involved.
You could get turned down. So what? There’s someone else who can help you. And the idea should be to get to know one another first.
There’s nothing quite as awkward as committing to a relationship and then changing your mind, he points out. Ask. That’s his next step.
There’s no proven way to ask someone to mentor you. You just might need to be honest, kind, respectful and helpful. Excellent points.
Be direct in your communications. I’m going to add in, don’t beat around the bush. Describe where it is you want to grow, what your goals are, specific questions or problems you’re facing and the reasons why you think this person would be a good fit.
And then from there, he encourages you to be a good mentee. Ask for feedback. Make it clear that you’re open to the mentor’s thoughts and advice on the topics that you discuss and look for someone who you can mentor because you should aspire to be a mentor yourself and pass the torch on to someone else who’s looking for help.
Make connections that count. In every area of your life, meeting the right people is important and, as such, it’s important for you to start thinking of people who you can give back to just as this person has given to you. Hope you found this helpful.
I’m Jeff Altman. My website is TheBigGameHunter.us. There’s a lot there that can help you with your career, your job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading. If you’re interested in my mentoring you, you can schedule time for a first session with me.
Yes, I do charge for mentoring and I’d love to help you in your development. Lastly, connect with me on linkedin at linkedin.com forward slash in forward slash TheBigGameHunter. Hope you have a terrific day and be great! Take care!
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS job search coaching and career advice globally because he makes job search and succeeding in your career easier.
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Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
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He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2900 episodes over 13+ years.
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