Why EVERYONE should have a mentor

[Kadidia Cooper]

If you are starting out in any new business, you should have a mentor. No matter whether you have been in business before, have taken tons of classes, you need a mentor. You know why it's easier for people to stick to a work out plan when they have a buddy? Or the personal trainer who yells at you for 45 minutes and then claps you on the back and says "Good job, but next time we can do better"? Because there is somebody who holds them accountable, who encourages, gives advice, shares wisdom and when needed kicks them in the *** - repeatedly.

For some of us the money we have spent on education, training and resources is not enough of a motivator. Some of us need a mentor to get over the fear of failing. After all, you can't fail if you never get started. Some need to learn to be accountable to ourselves and not a boss. Some of us suffer from information overload and do not know what the first step is, or how to execute it. Some of us have gotten to step 6 and are now stuck. It's is so much harder to give up when you have somebody you can call up for guidance.

So go out into your community and find one. Visit the Chamber of Commerce meeting, go to a real estate club, simply call them up. Your mentor does not need to be in the same industry as you, they just need to be successful. And what constitutes success is probably different for all of us. For some the guy with the biggest house on the hill is the most successful. For others it's the woman who knows just about everybody in town and can tell you exactly who to call depending on what you need. And when you call them, give them a reason why they should mentor you. And it should not be "because I want to be successful, rich ..." Let them know why you admire them and what you hope to learn from them.

And if all else fails, do not be afraid to pay for mentoring.