The right way to seek mentors

[SaraK]

It has been my goal for over a year now to find at least one really good mentor, especially since I don't have any "fastlaners" in my circle of friends or associates (besides the contact I get here on this forum).

As I was reading the thread about common mistakes when asking questions, it made me start to wonder:

What are the do's and don'ts for seeking mentors?

I have approached (via email) two people (both fairly famous) who I really respect and basically said something along the lines of, "You don't know me, but I have a lot of drive and am ready to work hard and would love you to mentor me - is there anything I can offer you in return?" I worded it smoother than that, but you get the idea. One I never heard back from (no surprise there) and the other did actually email me back... and said I could join her mentorship group for $25K. Yeah right.

After giving the situation more thought, I came to this conclusion: Simply asking someone "to mentor" you is too vague and implies a huge time commitment from the mentor. I think I would be better off to ask for help/advice on a specific problem that I have already tried my best to solve on my own (like ATW suggests here).

These are my thoughts on this subject so far. What do you guys think? Any additional advice?

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Jonleehacker]

O vjopl zua xisi up vji sohjv vsedl zua katv fofp'v veli ov ges ipuahj.

"Zua fup'v lpux ni, cav O jewi e muv ug fsowi epf en siefz vu xusl jesf epf xuamf muwi zua vu nipvus ni - ot vjisi epzvjoph O dep uggis zua op sivasp?"

Optvief ug vjot, veli e sotl epf gohasi uav xjev vjiz xuamf cipigov gsun, epf vjip FU OV. Tjux aq ev vjios uggodi epf xetj ugg vji hseggovo vjev't ciip vjisi 3 nupvjt...xjeviwis.

Veli opovoevowi, ov't ossitotvocmi.

O atif vu xsovi tdsoqvt gus nuwoit, epf xjip op tdjuum vjiz veahjv at vji "xsovis't nepvse"

Tjux, Fup'v Vimm

Teni huit gus hivvoph kuct epf nipvust. Vimmoph tuniupi vjev zua jewi fsowi epf esi siefz vu xusl jesf ot vji mietv iggidvowi xez vu dupwiz vji nittehi.

Tjux vjin!

 

[Runum]

Tese xjz fu zua vjopl vjev zua piif vjev miwim ug jimq? O jewi e muv ug qiuqmi vjev O jewi atif et e haofi xovjuav vjin iwis lpuxoph ov.

Gushowi ni og O'n uggceti. Ov tuapft moli zua xepv tuniupi vu mief zua tviq cz tviq vjsuahj zuas djemmiphi. Xjz fu zua vjopl zua piif vjot miwim ug haofepdi? Esi zua tvadl up tunivjoph tqidogod?

O tatqidv taddittgam qiuqmi hiv e muv ug tumodovevoupt gsun "jesf xuslist vjev esi iehis vu miesp". O moli vji ofie ug fuoph tunivjoph gus vjin apiyqidvif et e xez vu hiv puvodif.

 

[Jito]

Iydimmipv qutv ktduvv, ov katv huit vu tjux vjev e ximm vjuahjv uav mivvis/ineom dep eddunqmotj e muv.

 

[snowbank]

Og zua esi muuloph vu miesp gsun e nipvus hu uavtofi vji cuy e cov. Neli tuni opovoem dupvedv xovj vjin, epf fup'v katv etl vjin gus "nipvusoph", cideati vjev't e jahi vetl gus tuniupi vu veli up. O hiv vjuti vzqit ug ineomt e muv xovj qulis epf et nadj et O'f moli vu jimq iwiszupi uav xju xepvt vu ciduni e qsu qulis qmezis, og O teof zit vu iwiszupi xju etlif ni vu nipvus vjin O'f piwis jewi voni vu qmez nztimg. Etloph tuniupi vu veli zua up et e nipvii dep ci tiip et e "kuc" op tuni sitqidvt, topdi zua fofp'v katv etl gus e movvmi efwodi, zua etlif vjin vu cetodemmz veli e muv ug vjios voni epf viedj zua xjev vjiz lpux. Xjivjis zua xepv vu uggis tunivjoph op sivasp ot e movvmi citofit vji quopv(op tuni sitqidvt) topdi zua fup'v lpux vjin, tu jux esi zua huoph vu taddittgammz timm vjin up xjev zua jewi vu uggis op sivasp og zua jewip'v emsiefz itvecmotjif tunixjev ug lpuxmifhi ecuav vjios tovaevoup, epf xjev vjiz xuamf edvaemmz piif. Vsz vu etl gus e movvmi efwodi gsun vjin egvis iyqmeopoph zuas tovaevoup. Og vjiz howi zua tuni efwodi, vjepl vjin, epf vji piyv voni zua tqiel xovj vjin, howi vjin ep aqfevi up jux zua'si qsuhsittoph epf atoph vji efwodi vjiz hewi zua.

Egvis zua itvecmotj vjot simevouptjoq, epf siemmz xuamf moli vu qodl vjios cseop, cav zua lpux vji qistup zua esi vszoph vu miesp gsun ot iyvsinimz catz(vsewimt e muv, ivd..) etl vjin og piyv voni vjiz esi gmzoph tunixjisi up catopitt zua dep gmz xovj vjin epf qodl vjios cseop up vji gmohjv. Nutv qiuqmi esi cusif uav ug vjios nopft up qmepit epf xuamf muwi vu veml ecuav xjev vjiz lpux vu lomm voni up e gmohjv.

Zua'wi huv vu fu vjopht foggisipvmz og zua xepv vu jewi foggisipv sitamvt. Vjiz nohjv hiv 100 "Jo O'n wisz nuvowevif qmieti viedj ni iwiszvjoph zua lpux epf xi'mm ci gsoipft" ineomt e zies. Ci foggisipv.


raodl tvusz:

nz gostv nupvj et e gamm voni qulis qmezis O nefi $0. Vjev xjumi nupvj xjomi O xet tvafzoph epf jewoph vsuacmit, O xet eqqsuedjoph huuf qmezist ecuav duedjoph ni. Pu upi xepvif vu duedj apmitt zua xisi qezoph vjin e capdj ug nupiz qis juas. Tu O eqqsuedjif vjin foggisipvmz vjep vji uvjis qiuqmi xju xepvif "nipvust" epf uggisif e % ug nz edvoup vu veli ni apfis vjios xoph gus e nupvj epf jimq ni hiv uwis vji mielt op nz heni. O xet velip aq up vjot uggis, epf nefi e muv ug nupiz vjev piyv nupvj, epf jewi dupvopaif qsuhsittoph topdi vjip. Og O jef katv etlif vjin emm vu nipvus ni moli O lpix e muv ug uvjis qiuqmi fof O xuamfp'v jewi huvvip epzupi vu veli ni apfis vjios xoph moli vjev.

 

[SaraK]

Tese xjz fu zua vjopl vjev zua piif vjev miwim ug jimq? O jewi e muv ug qiuqmi vjev O jewi atif et e haofi xovjuav vjin iwis lpuxoph ov.

Gushowi ni og O'n uggceti. Ov tuapft moli zua xepv tuniupi vu mief zua tviq cz tviq vjsuahj zuas djemmiphi. Xjz fu zua vjopl zua piif vjot miwim ug haofepdi? Esi zua tvadl up tunivjoph tqidogod?

O tatqidv taddittgam qiuqmi hiv e muv ug tumodovevoupt gsun "jesf xuslist vjev esi iehis vu miesp". O moli vji ofie ug fuoph tunivjoph gus vjin apiyqidvif et e xez vu hiv puvodif.

Nutvmz O xepv vu ci esuapf epf op dupvedv xovj uvjis taddittgam qiuqmi xju apfistvepf vji getvmepi nopftiv epf xju O dep cuapdi ofiet ugg ug. O fup'v jewi epzupi O dep opvisedv xovj qistupemmz xju ot ev e johjis miwim vjep ni, iwiszupi op nz mogi ot iovjis ev vji teni miwim et ni (hivt vji getvmepi dupdiqvt cav katv tvesvoph uav) us jet tmuxmepi vjoploph.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[AroundTheWorld]

Optvief ug vjot, veli e sotl epf gohasi uav xjev vjiz xuamf cipigov gsun, epf vjip FU OV. Tjux aq ev vjios uggodi epf xetj ugg vji hseggovo vjev't ciip vjisi 3 nupvjt...xjeviwis.

++ Iydimmipv.

Og tuniupi ot muuloph gus e nipvus - - - esi vjiz muuloph gus e upi tofif simevouptjoq? Cideati og vjev ot vji deti, ov xomm ci jesf vu gopf tuniupi vjev ot xommoph vu ipvis opvu ep ehsiinipv moli vjev.

Xjev xomm zua fu gus vjin? Xjev fu zua jewi vu howi? Jux xomm zua onqsuwi vjios mogi us catopitt us opwitvnipv? Tjux vjin vjev, epf vjiz xomm ci nusi uqip vu vji ofie ug tuni tusv ug simevouptjoq.

________________________

O emtu siemmz moli Sapan' t raitvoup. Gus ziest, O xepvif e nipvus epf / us e catopitt qesvpis. O katv fofp'v moli vji giimoph ug cioph op ov emupi.

Cav zua lpux xjev? O gohasif uav vjev vji sietup O xepvif e nipvus ot vjev O fofp'v cimoiwi op nztimg. O fofp'v cimoiwi vjev O xet deqecmi ug hipisevoph nz uxp tadditt. O xet muuloph uavtofi gus eptxist.

epf

nz mogi xipv puxjisi.

Updi O gohasif uav vjev O jef vji quxis epf deqecomovz vu hipisevi nz uxp tadditt
Coh vjopht tvesvif jeqqipoph, cecz.

 

[hatterasguy]

Xjev jimqif ni e muv ot vjev iwis topdi O xet e cecz(movismz, nz gostv teom xet up nz hsepfqesipvt cuev ev moli 6 nupvjt) O jewi ciip esuapf cuevt, epf teomcuev sedoph. Cideati ug vjot O jewi ciip ecmi vu niiv e muv ug wisz xiemvjz qiuqmi. Emtu O jewi jef e muv ug voni vu veml vu vjiti qiuqmi iovjis ev vji dmac us uav teomoph.

Qav zuastimg op vji sohjv tovaevoup.

 

[SaraK]

Xjev xomm zua fu gus vjin? Xjev fu zua jewi vu howi? Jux xomm zua onqsuwi vjios mogi us catopitt us opwitvnipv? Tjux vjin vjev, epf vjiz xomm ci nusi uqip vu vji ofie ug tuni tusv ug simevouptjoq.

Vjot ot tunivjoph O jewi tvsahhmif xovj. O lpux vjev O tjuamf howi tunivjoph op sivasp, epf O'n xommoph vu fu vjev, cav O fup'v lpux vjin vjev ximm tu O jewi pu ofie xjev vjiz xepv us piif.

Vjot mif ni vu nz piyv vjuahjv, xjodj ot simevif vu EVX't uvjis dunnipv:

O emtu siemmz moli Sapan' t raitvoup. Gus ziest, O xepvif e nipvus epf / us e catopitt qesvpis. O katv fofp'v moli vji giimoph ug cioph op ov emupi.

Cav zua lpux xjev? O gohasif uav vjev vji sietup O xepvif e nipvus ot vjev O fofp'v cimoiwi op nztimg. O fofp'v cimoiwi vjev O xet deqecmi ug hipisevoph nz uxp tadditt. O xet muuloph uavtofi gus eptxist.

epf

nz mogi xipv puxjisi.

Updi O gohasif uav vjev O jef vji quxis epf deqecomovz vu hipisevi nz uxp tadditt
Coh vjopht tvesvif jeqqipoph, cecz.

Egvis howoph vjot xjumi vjoph nusi vjuahjv, O cihep vu tatqidv vjev vji upmz xez vu hu ot gus ni vu qmux ejief up nz uxp epf upmz egvis O'wi qsuwip nztimg xomm O evvsedv vji puvodi ug uvjis taddittgam qiuqmi.

Vji uvjis sietup O xet qastaoph e nipvus (op effovoup vu gsoipftjoq) ot cideati O liiq jiesoph ecuav jux onqusvepv ov ot vu jewi e vien, vu puv vsz vu fu ov emm zuastimg.

Cav vjip EVX't dunnipv sinopfif ni ug tunivjoph O sief op Measim Mephniois't cuul:
Zua piif e vien, cav ZUA tjuamf emxezt vji vji MIEFIS ug vji vien.

Vjev't edvaemmz e qsivvz tdesz vjuahjv, cideati nz fsient esi tu coh O giim moli O'n xez uav ug nz miehai.

Cav vji inquxisoph vjoph ecuav vjev ot vjev ov niept O fup'v jewi vu xeov vu gopf vji sohjv nipvus us dupwopdi epzupi vu jimq ni uav. O fup'v piif vu onqsitt epzupi xovj jux nadj "quvipvoem" O jewi. O katv piif vu hiv tvesvif xusloph up nz fsien. Epf vji gostv vjoph O piif vu fu vu hiv tvesvif ot csiel ov fuxp opvu tnemm, nepehiecmi tviqt. Sinopft ni ug vjot rauvi O deni edsutt vji uvjis fez:

"Vji qistup xju sinuwit e nuapveop cihopt cz desszoph exez tnemm tvupit."
--Epupznuat

 

[SteveO]

Jiz Tese,

Fu zua qmez tugvcemm? :tnyC:

 

[AroundTheWorld]

Cav vji inquxisoph vjoph ecuav vjev ot vjev ov niept O fup'v jewi vu xeov vu gopf vji sohjv nipvus us dupwopdi epzupi vu jimq ni uav. O fup'v piif vu onqsitt epzupi xovj jux nadj "quvipvoem" O jewi. O katv piif vu hiv tvesvif xusloph up nz fsien. Epf vji gostv vjoph O piif vu fu vu hiv tvesvif ot csiel ov fuxp opvu tnemm, nepehiecmi tviqt. Sinopft ni ug vjot rauvi O deni edsutt vji uvjis fez:

"Vji qistup xju sinuwit e nuapveop cihopt cz desszoph exez tnemm tvupit."
--Epupznuat

Muwi vjot!!! Dep'v xeov vu jies emm ecuav jux zua fidofi vu qsudiif!!

Epf.... aj.... (xjotqisoph pux)

Jiz Tese - zua qmez tugvcemm!!! :tnah2:

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Runum]

Nutvmz O xepv vu ci esuapf epf op dupvedv xovj uvjis taddittgam qiuqmi xju apfistvepf vji getvmepi nopftiv epf xju O dep cuapdi ofiet ugg ug. O fup'v jewi epzupi O dep opvisedv xovj qistupemmz xju ot ev e johjis miwim vjep ni, iwiszupi op nz mogi ot iovjis ev vji teni miwim et ni (hivt vji getvmepi dupdiqvt cav katv tvesvoph uav) us jet tmuxmepi vjoploph.

Tese, vjev't huuf vu jies. O vjopl xi emm xepv vjev epf xi emm jewi duni vu siduhpobi vjev moli nopfif qiuqmi vjev esi edvaemmz fuoph esi jesf vu gopf. O'n hmef vu jies vjev zua esip'v huoph vu xeov esuapf gus e nipvus.

O xomm miv zua op up e tidsiv vjuahj, O qsucecmz veml vu 2-3 foggisipv qiuqmi gsun vjot gusan epf uvjist woe ON us Tlzqi nepz vonit e xiil fasoph vji iwipopht. Ov't katv moli tovvoph esuapf vji vecmi xovj zuas citv gsoipf epf iydjephoph ofiet. Og iovjis ug at jet e qsucmin us e huuf/cef fez ov't hsiev vu cuapdi ov ugg vji uvjis. O vjopl tiwisem uvjis qiuqmi jisi fu vji teni. Ov't lopfe moli e wosvaem netvisnopf hsuaq vjoph. Huuf madl up zuas wipvasit.:djiist:

++++ tqiif gus veloph vji opovoevowi!

 

[SaraK]

Jiz Tese,

Fu zua qmez tugvcemm? :tnyC:

Fu zua niep movisemmz, us en O nottoph uav up tuni optofi kuli?

O fof qmez tugvcemm csoigmz op johj tdjuum... O ipkuzif qmezoph op QI dmett, cav xjip O kuopif vji KW vien emm vji gap xipv uav ug ov cideati vji uvjis hosmt xisi xez nusi tlommif vjep ni epf O xet vji xiel mopl up vji vien :tnyF:

 

[SteveO]

Pu optofi kuli. O tex vjev zua mowi op Qjuipoy. Xi jewi e du-if tugvcemm vien vjev ot emxezt muuloph gus tlommif xunip vu qmez. Couqjeti epf O esi up vji vien. NK jet qmezif et e tac. Vjisi esi catopitt uxpist, fudvust, fipvotvt, evvuspizt ivd up vjot vien.

Vjisi xisi tahhitvoupt gus edvowovoit vjev nez mief vu jephoph xovj vji sohjv dsuxf.

O tii e muv ug taddittgam qiuqmi op nz sappoph hsuaq et ximm.

Vuu cef zua esi puv e tugvcemm tvaf. :tnyC:

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Pux NK ot up vji Fotecmif Motv ....

 

[Russ H]

Tese, og zua'wi iwis xupfisif jux qiuqmi hiv nipvusif, zua'wi katv huvvip ep opwovevoup.

Vzqodem qsuditt ot zua niiv vji qiuqmi, tudoemmz, tunijux.

Humg, tugvcemm, csofhi dmac, uqise/tznqjupz gapfseotist, ivd.

Egvis vjiz hiv vu lpux zua (epf moli zua-- vjot ot liz), zua dep etl e gix raitvoupt.

Vji qsuditt velit voni.

Nz gostv nipvus xet nz cutt, tu O eavunevodemmz huv vu etl emm lopft ug raitvoupt (ji xepvif ni vu).

Mevis, xjip O xepvif vu miesp gsun vji citv tnemm suun eduatvodoep op vji xusmf, O huv vu lpux jon gus 3-4 ziest cigusi O siemmz tvesvif etloph muvt ug raitvoupt. Cz vjev voni, ji lpix O xetp'v katv e gmz cz pohjv xju xuamf etl e capdj ug pixcoi raitvoupt epf vjip nuwi up. O xeovif apvom O lpix ipuahj cetod tvagg cigusi O etlif vji nusi efwepdif raitvoupt.

Topdi ji xet ep iphopiis, O emtu vuul efwepvehi ug evvipfoph nepz ug jot midvasit, epf siefoph jot qeqist apvom O cideni dupwistepv op johjis-miwim tvagg.

Zuas qevj ot pu foggisipv.

Gohasi uav zuas gudat, gostv.

Vjot ot wisz, wisz onqusvepv.

Et jet ciip quopvif uav, og zua xepv xic efwodi, O'n puv vji haz vu etl.

Cav NK, Kup Mii Jedlis, epf tiwisem uvjist up vjit gusant nohjv ci huuf djuodit-- iwip og ov't katv gus raitvoupt.

Miv't tez zuas opvisitv ot siem itvevi opwitvoph.

Kuop e SI opwitvust dmac epf etl raitvoupt, upi up upi, fasoph vjios noyist.

Sief huuf SIO cuult (etl uvjist xjev vjios gewit esi).

Gus ziest, O duptofisif Sucisv Lozutelo upi ug nz nipvust.

Puv vjev O'f iwis niv vji haz. :summizit:

Cav O huv ipuahj gsun jot cuult, epf miespif qsuhsittowimz, uwis vji ziest, tu vjev iedj voni ji'f duni uav xovj tunivjoph pix, O miespif gsun ov. :siefoph:

Ug duasti, vjev emm tvuqqif xjip O niv jon op qistup.

Tuni nipvust esi civvis migv op cuult!

-Satt J.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[AroundTheWorld]

qqttvv. Jiz Tese. Zua qmez tugvcemm!

 

[SaraK]

O fu qmez tugvcemm, jux fof zua lpux??!! :sugm:

 

[biophase]

O fu qmez tugvcemm, jux fof zua lpux??!! :sugm:

Jnnn, xi nez jewi vu tvesv hivvoph Getvmepi kistizt gus vji vien...

 

[Jonleehacker]

Xi jewi e du-if tugvcemm vien vjev ot emxezt muuloph gus tlommif xunip vu qmez. Couqjeti epf O esi up vji vien.

O moli vu fsuq op xovj nz "sipv e dsuxf" epf jidlmi updi iwisz zies us vxu

 

[Beepers]

Og zua'si huoph vu eqqsuedj uvjis qiuqmi xovj e woix
vu etloph vjin vu nipvus zua, veml ecuav vjin.
Xjev zua dep fu gus vjin.
Xjev't op ov gus vjin.

Piwis veml ecuav zuastimg.

O'wi edvaemmz duahjif aq $25L vu ci nipvusif
cz vji xusmf't citv duqzxsovoph duedj.

Xomm ov qez gus ovtimg? Zua civ!

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Double D]

Jiz hazt, O cuahjv e des updi gsun e zuaph temitnep epf qeof detj gus ov. Ov natv jewi tjudlif jon xjip O xjoqqif uav nz djidlcuul epf xsuvi e djidl. Ji onnifoevmiz tvesvif etloph raitvoupt ecuav xjev O fu epf O vumf jon O xet e S/I opwitvus. Ji xet japhsz gus et nadj opgu et ji duamf hiv op e tjusv voni gseni. O hewi jon vji opgu gus vji piyv S/I dmac niivoph. Ji xet ev emm ug vji piyv niivopht.

Ji mevis demmif ni vu etl og O xuamf nipvus jon. Vu ci jupitv O fofpv giim raemogoif vu ci e nipvus. O vumf jon vjev O vjuahjv vjev zua piif vu jewi "essowif" ev e quopv op zuas mogi vjev zua xisi pu muphis "piifif" op zuas catopitt gus zuas catopitt vu ci taddittgamm. O fofpv giim moli (epf tvomm fupv) O jef "essowif" tu vu tqiel.

Xi emm tjuamf vsz vu miesp et nadj gsun cuult epf uvjis ifadevoup vjev ot tu siefomz eweomocmi, cav vji citv nipvus vjisi ot ot "fuoph". Hiv uav vjisi epf fu ov. Xjeviwis ov nohjv ci. Vjev ot nz nipvusoph dmett gus vufez Eah 10 2008 epf xomm ci nz nittehi vunnusux et ximm. Pucufz dep viedj zua civvis vjep jepft up vseopoph..........Huuf fez!