Places to meet a good mentor? How to go about it?

Question

I've been reading alot and noticed that having a good mentor is what will help me gain knowledge that I need to be successful. My concern is where do I meet one?

Joe Scaparra · Answer

@Alicia Renee , I would first update my profile on this site, expand more info about yourself and where you're from.  Mention your experience or lack thereof and state what you're looking to achieve.  Browse threads that interest you and when you see post from people that you think may be helpful in your endeavors connect with them.  Also since your in the Austin fourm,  I might guess you're in the Austin area.  If not, go to the regional forums and those posting from your area, private message them and ask them for coffee ect.

Bruce Petersen · Answer

There are many meet-ups here in Austin.

I would go to as many of them as you can and be a frequent attendee.  Get to know who has the skills you are trying to learn and get to really know them (this is where the regular attendee piece comes in).

After you have developed an actual relationship the ask will much better received.

To find the local meet-ups I would go to the meet-up site not here, there don't seem to be many of them listed on this site for some reason.

Stephen Akindona · Answer

@Alicia Renee, great question! I meet a lot of newer real estate investors and they are often asking this question. It is really not as hard as people think. First tip, don't ask someone you don't know to be your mentor.

This is a lot of pressure to put on someone who you have no relational capital! Instead find out who the people are in your area who are investing in real estate and try to build relationship with them. Ask to interview them for a project or ask for a 10 minute meeting in their office. I try to typically meet these people in their office first and inviting them to lunch or coffee might be too aggressive depending on the individual. I also let people know how long I want to meet them for so they don't feel like it is an open ended invitation to talk for hours!

Go to your local REIA meetings or meet ups and just get involved with the community of investors. I can tell you from the point of someone who has mentored several that most people generally want to help. I get frustrated as a mentor with the time wasters. I will typically have to feel like someone is serious and ready to take action before I will help. I usually get that feeling after a few times of this person reaching out and asking specific questions!

Costin I. · Answer

@Alicia Renee , if you are in Austin MSA, you should check out Austin InvestHER and keep an eye for the next sessions of W2-RE-Investing and Austin Private Lender and Borrower Networking.

Nick Sheveland · Answer

Go to local meetups and coffee dates with people on here. Find out what they need because everyone needs something and find a way to help them or befriend them and support them. If finding a mentor seems hard it's just your mindset, don't worry that too can change. People in this line of work / lifestyle like to give back. RE isn't about houses, it's about relationships. When you see a name on BP that keeps coming up and putting out good content you'll know that's someone who is active not only here buy in their investing career. Connect with these people and see if you can by them coffee or tea.

Costin I. · Answer

@Alicia Renee - we just presented&discussed at our last meetup event the value of a mentor, mentoring agreement, how to chose a mentor and questions for a potential mentor. Since this is a pretty big subject, we'll likely discuss it further (how to differentiate between a mentor, coach and guru, how to spot scammers, etc.) in future events.

Jason M McNamara · Answer

@Alicia Renee we reached out to our mentor who was on a BP podcast.  I did a bunch of research on his story and it turned out he lived 5 min from me. I reached out on all of his emails and social networks. He agreed to meet for coffee. We shared our journeys and agreed to help one another. He was starting another business I could help with (from my day job) so that was my offer in exchange.  It’s been a lovely arrangement and met him only on the day that we met for coffee. Everything else has been virtual or getting our families together (to not talk shop).  Good luck.

Caleb Heimsoth · Answer

@Alicia Renee your concern should be “how do you provide value to someone who could mentor you”?  If you can only come up with “I’m a fast learner”, then you’re in for a rough time.

People who are successful in real estate are busy, very busy.  They don’t have time to hand hold a total newbie.  You can mitigate this and be different (instead of the endless stream of newbies who come on BP, post once and then disappear) by educating yourself ahead of time, maybe doing a deal on your own etc.

I have been doing this for 3 years.  I have had zero formal mentors.  I have people I learn from, but they don’t mentor me.  I just ask them general questions occasionally.

Places to meet a good mentor? How to go about it?

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