Take Action on Your Goals - Find a Mentor to Ensure Career Success

The next couple of blogs will address ways to take action on your goals. If possible, find a mentor who is willing to teach you what you need to know to attain your goal(s). This mentor should be someone who has the character traits you admire and who is in a position you aspire to hold or is doing what you hope to do. He or she should give you straightforward information and honest, positive critiques. You don’t want someone who says, “Yes, you are wonderful,” without providing proper guidance and criticism that will mold you into the person you hope to be.

How do you find a mentor?

• Network, network, network. You have to put yourself out there and ask for help. Most people are willing to help others.
• Join groups and seek successful members.
• Observe others in the workplace. Who would be the best person from which to learn?
• Take a class, get a tutor, or hire a coach.

Your mentor should be an expert in the area in which you want to learn. In addition, he/she should be able to teach; that is, get information across in an easy-to-understand way. Some people are experts in their fields, but they cannot convey information to others clearly.

Modeling successful people who have achieved what you want provides a readymade road map to reach your goals.