Jared Atchison is the co-founder of WPForms, a drag-and-drop form builder for WordPress that's used on over 4,000,000 websites.
Starting a business is a dream come true for many. However, building a company from scratch may be easier said than done.
You may come across a number of challenges throughout your entrepreneurial journey, which often make you susceptible to self-doubt.
When things don't go your way, it may get difficult for you to find the motivation to keep the needle moving. As a result of this, many end up quitting midway and don't make it to the other side.
Finding a mentor may be of great help when starting a business. A mentor will act as a guide when you start questioning the decisions you make and help you navigate through an unfamiliar territory.
A mentor steers your efforts in the right direction and motivates you to keep going even when the odds are against you.
With their expert guidance, it may be easier for you to explore new opportunities and scale your business with ease.
Here's how you can increase your chances of finding the right guide or mentor for you:
Setting clear goals is essential when finding a mentor. Unless you're clear on what your destination is, no one can help you get there. Once you have set your goals, the next step is to break them down into milestones and further down into tasks.
By doing this, you will know the skills and resources you need to be a step closer to reaching your destination.
A mentor's role here will be to help you acquire the required skills by helping you attract the top talent in your respective industry. Plus, they may also help you access the resources that you may need by leveraging their connections.
Furthermore, a mentor can offer valuable information that caters to your pain points and helps you solve the problems you encounter. Whether you need to grow your network, come up with a solid business strategy, or acquire relevant industry insights, a mentor can help you out with ease.
Aspiring entrepreneurs often underestimate the power of their social circle. The people you know have connections of their own. So, they may help you connect with the right people.
Your friends from high school may be running successful businesses. You just don't know because you're not in touch with them anymore. So, just ask around. What's better than finding the right mentor among people you already know?
You can also reach out to members of your family who are currently running successful businesses. They have already experienced problems similar to yours and overcame the challenges. So, they may help you find fitting solutions.
There are a variety of platforms and online communities that may help you get in touch with people who can guide you throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
You can leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn and X to connect with potential mentors. Joining Facebook groups and other relevant communities may also do the trick.
By having an active presence on relevant platforms online, you can connect with industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs who are willing to share their knowledge or expertise.
To do that, try participating in discussions and showing that you currently seek mentorship. Be expressive when it comes to sharing your pain points, and don't shy away from talking about your experiences.
Every industry has seasoned entrepreneurs and thought leaders. These people are experts in their respective domains and have extensive industry knowledge. They keep an eye on the market trends and are familiar with the dynamics of their respective industries.
Reaching out to them and asking them to be your guide may be a wise move that enables you to face the upcoming challenges head-on.
Under their guidance, you will be able to understand your customers better, explore buying behaviors, and gather relevant industry insights. Plus, you can identify gaps in the market and explore new business opportunities.
Attending industry events is one of the most effective ways to grow your network and find a guide for your entrepreneurial journey.
You should actively attend workshops, conferences, and meetups to connect with the right people and ask them for their guidance.
These events help you strike up meaningful conversations and get helpful advice from industry experts and veteran business professionals.
Just don't hesitate to approach someone you think can help you find fitting solutions to your problems. Discuss what you've been doing, share your experiences, and be open to feedback.
It may come as a surprise, but experts and thought leaders attending industry events are generally welcoming and like sharing their experiences with aspiring entrepreneurs. So, attending such events may prove to be useful.
Mentors not only help you come up with efficient business strategies but also equip you with relevant information to tackle unforeseen challenges.
They motivate you when the odds are not in your favor and encourage you in moments when you doubt yourself.
If you're looking for a mentor who can guide you to achieve your set goals and keep the needle moving for your business, the recommendation in this article may help.