Mentors

[prawn_86]

How does one go about getting a mentor?

Should you have different mentors for different areas of life?

How important are they really?

Doe anyone have/is anyone a mentor?

Information/stories/experiences most welcome

 

[gordon2007]

Do they really exist? Seriously I always just thought that was a Seinfeld episode.

 

[cuttlefish]

I reckon finding mentors is a good idea. They don't necessarily need to know they're a mentor - you just need to find people that are longer in the tooth and more experienced than you that you have genuine respect for and who set a good example in areas that you'd like to aspire towards.

I'd also suggest that having mentors for different areas is a good idea and that you don't assume your mentors are perfect or know everything. You're just looking for people that might be useful sounding boards when making your own decisions, who have experience and wisdom that might help in the process, and who might be willing to spend time showing you the ropes when entering new areas.

You want different mentors - A person that you feel comfortable with and respect an opinion from on investing won't necessarily be someone that you want advice from on how to raise your kids or how you perfect your golf swing. (though of course you might be lucky and find an all rounder!).

 

[Sean K]

How does one go about getting a mentor?

Should you have different mentors for different areas of life?

How important are they really?

Doe anyone have/is anyone a mentor?

Information/stories/experiences most welcome

The Army uses a formal mentor system during Officer training where you are allocated to an Officer who keeps an eye on you. I was lucky enough to have one who took his role seriously and was of significant assistance at Duntroon.

During my career I also developed a relationship with an Officer slightly senior to me who I thought was heading in the direction I wanted to. I also saw him to be a mover and shaker who would go places and open doors for me. I think I was lucky enough in that he supported me and took me under his wing a bit. He ended up being a source of great advice and I think promoted me well around his cohort and many went on to be senior Officers and in positions of power. We are now good friends I still keep in contact with him. If I wanted to rejoin full time he would make it happen.

There's definately a place for it in your career IMO and if I was managing a large company I would impliment a mentor system for junior staff if appropriate.

If you want one in your line of work just start developing a basic relationship with someone who you admire and/or is going down the path you want. If you show keen interest for development and they like you they will more than likely be happy to provide you time and advice. Doesn't have to be a formal relationship.

 

[noirua]

All my mentors are dead - I'm the only one left.

 

[tech/a]

Well its certaintly great to see someone outside the square.
Really it shouldnt be,it should be common.

Ive done so all my life.
In business I searched out successful people in various fields.
Marketing,Business Developement,Growth.I have many aliences with successful people who I value their opinions.
In Property I sought developers when I first became involved.
Trading its been Radge and a few faceless others (to the general populace) each expert in their field.

I find its best to search out a specialty and in some cases you'll need to pay for mentoring.
In others they will become friends or aquaintences who you can share a chat with.

Youll be suprised at how much you'll find out from passionate people who are willing to share experiences/good and bad,often the bad gleans more useful information than the good.

(If anyones facing bankruptcy give me a holla Ive faced it twice and learnt more on those occasions than in any other from a business survival aspect!.)

REWARD to RISK has become a catch phrase which I only to well understand.

A lot of mentoring goes on on these boards.
Posting of SPECIFIC requests on problems or advice often gives great response.

 

[nizar]

A lot of mentoring goes on on these boards.
Posting of SPECIFIC requests on problems or advice often gives great response.

I couldn't agree more.
I think anybody who gives you specific advise or some tips from their experiences is in some ways a mentor.
As somebody said above it doesnt have to be a formal relationship.

I have had a few that have given me alot of help and advice over the years on here and also via email correspondence (Clearly they didn't have to) and for that Im grateful.

I also have one mentor in my field and this guy is a champion. A real go getta. And we get along great, he's pretty much told where he started and HOW he got to where he is today, along with the MISTAKES he has made, which is often the most useful part.

I would recommend everybody to have a mentor, or several, each specialised in their field.

SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES. ITS UPTO US TO SEEK THEM OUT.

How to seek them out?
Workplaces, university, social functions, anywhere.
If you display an interest in their speciality, they will most likely be more than willing to help you.
Why?
Because there was probably somebody that helped them when they were younger.

I think this quote would be appropriate here as well:

If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from men who had never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding and do as they have done - Joseph Marshall Wade

 

[chops_a_must]

I couldn't agree more.
I think anybody who gives you specific advise or some tips from their experiences is in some ways a mentor.
As somebody said above it doesnt have to be a formal relationship.

For young men especially, I always thought it was really important for the father figure to be the mentor.

I guess I've had maybe 3 or 4 offerings of 'mentorships' (all at uni). Two were particularly insistent. I don't know. I'm always flattered, but it's not my kind of thing. I guess that's just being an autodidact for you. I very rarely learn things people try to teach me. It's always been that way. I must be doing something right though.

As Mark Twain said, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education". But it's nice to know I'll have some staff support when I eventually decide to do post-grad.

My older brother has always been a good mentor though, and still is actually.

 

[prawn_86]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Another question...

Do people specifically seek out a mentor? Or is it more of an 'evolving' process with some people you meet?

I know a few people that i look up to and take advice from, but i dont know if i would call them 'mentors' as such.

 

[tech/a]

I search mine out---some have remained friends most aquaintences.

 

[rowes]

Great topic,

This is something that i have also wondered. I would love to find someone who could share their experience and knowledge in the trading industry. This has been in my opinion a big stumbling block for me as there is no one i know either mates or aquaintences who have the slightest interest in the share market and that does make it difficult as you cant bounce ideas of, ask advice or simply talk to. I'm sure you can make it on your own but it would be a hell of alot more fun and interesting to have one.

I'm on the hunt

 

[tech/a]

I'm on the hunt

Whats wrong with here.

 

[IFocus]

When seeking Mentors be mindfull of the need to engage them not just be a time wasting bore.

Take notice of some on the forum here that ask engaging quality questions Nizar / Can and Snake come to mind.

If you dont currently have those skills thats OK people will still respond if they see you progressing.

Like Tech I think this forum is the place to start as there are many here with plenty to offer and willing to do so.

One last point is see if you can learn some thing about language the traders who know will use a certain style while those that sell will use another

Focus

 

[rowes]

Whats wrong with here.

Here is great, I have learned alot from all the information and help provided by the members on this forum, and I will continue to keep learning, when I meant on the hunt I was referring to someone/s who I could sit down with in person.

There are a couple in particular on this forum who's input I have found very insightful and there one author in particular who's work I also really enjoy, I guess you could call these people my mentors in a roundabout way.

 

[Surly]

I have found this to be an exceptionally insightful forum and with a little regular reading you sort the wheat from the chaff.

My trading is improving and my portfolio is growing nicely with the knowledge and tips gleaned from here.

A university lecturer gave the class a piece of advice during my very short stint studying engineering at UWA.

"You do not need to know everything and nobody can...but you need to know how to find things out...how to learn and how to teach yourself"

I have held this as the most important thing I learned.

This forum and its various mentors certainly provide the opportunity to learn.

cheers
Surly

 

[Julia]

Prawn, and others who are seeking mentors: Good for you. I'm sure if I'd had the foresight to do this when I was younger I'd have made far fewer mistakes in all areas of life.

I'd like to suggest a slightly different take on mentoring.
It's very useful to have a peer network - can be friends or just acquaintances.
I'm part of a group of women of similar age, background and interests, but with different areas of knowledge/expertise, experience. We meet once a month and share ideas/problems/suggestions. Can be anything from personal to business. A high level of trust exists and without that I doubt that it would work.

I'm not sure whether this would be as useful for young people just starting out in their careers but don't see why not.

I'm not suggesting this as being in any way better than seeking out an older more experienced personal mentor, but it's another approach which might be useful for some people.

Nioka: you said all your mentors have gone to mentoring heaven (well, no, you didn't exactly say that.) So this is your opportunity to pass on your experience to the next generation.

I'm also part of a mentoring programme working with "challenging" students in the local high school. While well intentioned, I'm not sure that this programme achieves a great deal, fighting as it does against apathetic parents and an over-burdened school staff. For mentoring to work, the person being mentored needs to want to be involved. A kid suspended from school for repeated bad behaviour takes some incredible patience.

 

[josh_in_a_box]

check your uni, at macq uni we have a mentor program; which I will be applying for this month.

-Josh

 

[rowes]

I'd like to suggest a slightly different take on mentoring.
It's very useful to have a peer network - can be friends or just acquaintances.
I'm part of a group of women of similar age, background and interests, but with different areas of knowledge/expertise, experience. We meet once a month and share ideas/problems/suggestions. Can be anything from personal to business. A high level of trust exists and without that I doubt that it would work.

Hi Julia,
thanks for sharing i really like this idea, food for thought.

 

[Prospector]

Most of the best business leaders I know use Mentors. Conversely,those who are struggling, usually don't.

And my message when working with those who have already been through life's experiences and weathered them well, is that it is now time for them to mentor others, as Julia has already mentioned to Nioka.

 

[palanquin]

TECH

I have spoken with Radge on one occasion, and live not far from him. Still, there is so much dubious flotsam out there; it is time consuming and confusing sorting the wheat from the chaff, so I remained wary.

Going through various threads lately, I have noticed that you have mentioned his name on serval. Because your own postings indicate sound and succinct reasoning, when others have dissolved into mumbling mothballs (software), I have concluded that he must be OK if you say so, and I will follow up.

I would have liked more software information from you, but not at the risk of keeping that thread alive. Is there another way?

Thanks for providing a steppingstone on my journey.