Why you want a mentor and how to find one By Dr. Ina Nozek

When you look back at your life, you will probably see that you’ve had many positive role models. You probably had a few teachers, or a relative, or a friend’s parent who had a positive influence on you. All of us can benefit from having people in our lives who are successful in some area and can inspire and teach us to do better for ourselves.

Who are your mentors? Who are the people who have taught or inspired you? Have you ever worked with a coach?

Coaching is now more popular than ever. Countless people are now life coaches, health coaches, success coaches, etc. Many of them have gone to “coaching school” and become certified in coaching. Others declare themselves to be coaches based on their own experiences and successes in various areas.

So what is a coach? A coach is someone who partners with another in a commitment to make the other person better based on his or her strengths and goals. A coach offers support, guidance, and accountability. The support and guidance a coach can offer is something that can make the difference between success and failure. The coach should also hold you accountable for doing what you say you are going to do; It’s critical to have someone you can rely on to keep you on track with your goals.

Interestingly, some people will purposely not tell anybody what they are embarking upon. No one wants to put his foot in his mouth. Glenn and I, however, believe you should always tell others; you should shout it from the roof tops, and you should especially find some trustworthy friends to keep you on track. Declaring your goal creates a little more ‘skin in the game’, if you know what I mean!

To make sure you are held accountable, it’s important to find the right coach or support group. The coach you hire should be somebody you respect and can connect with. He or she must be somebody you will take advice from, and someone you believe can make a difference in helping you achieve success. Be picky. there are many coaches out there, and as in any profession, some will be better for you than others.

What about finding a mentor? A mentor is someone who guides a less experienced person by building trust and modeling positive behaviors. An effective mentor understands that his or her role is to be dependable and to engage with and tune into his or her men- tee’s needs. Many of us have had a lot of mentors in our lives. These people are positive role models—people we can aspire to be like and who have desirable characteristics, gifts, strengths, and talents that we can model.

So whether you hire a coach, ask somebody to mentor you, or just pay attention to the people who have already done what you want to do, it’s all good. You have your own unique talents and gifts, and there’s nothing wrong with finding others who will serve as a positive influence on you so you can realize your true potential and expand your greatness. Plus, you can be that powerful and positive influence on others as you achieve your biggest dreams and goals.

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If you are looking to change your life a lot of it has to do with your mindset. Download our free guide: The 7 Simple Mindset Habits to Life Your Best Life Now to learn our secrets to achieving a mindset that leads to whole life transformation.”