Don’t Get Brainwashed by Self Proclaimed “Mentors”

Like most of you, I realized the opportunity for a changed life as a result of a successful online business.  My wife and I are relatively new online business owners, though not new to business.  Nonetheless, we are having a blast.  Before starting our online marketing business, we did our homework and boy did we ever get overwhelmed.  All of the hype and income promises; all of the marketing tactics, techniques and tools; 100s of “this is the business you should join” pitches; and 1000s of junk email.  But, the one thing that annoyed us the most was the number of self proclaimed “Mentors”.  

It seems as if everyone in the industry feels that they have to sell themselves as a mentor to convert leads.  I’m afraid that too many prospective online entrepreneurs are getting brainwashed by copy and paste landing pages and claims by the advertiser that they are experts.  Even on Thank You emails, these advertisers are putting the word “Mentor” in their signature blocks.  That would be fine if they truly had the experience, knowledge, and credibility to do so, but in most cases, they just signed up in their business last week.  Ultimately, the entrepreneurs are left without the support they deserve; they are disappointed; and their businesses fail.  The long term results will be a black eye to the rest of the industry. 

There’s no benefit in blasting those who abuse the title “mentor”, but I would like to share with the readers a word of warning as you seek to build your online businesses.  Choose your mentor wisely.  Whether you are already in the online business arena, or are looking to join, know this: The quality and stability of any structure is directly dependent upon the quality and stability of its foundation.  Your business is no different.  If you don’t have a mentor that will help you construct a solid foundation, your business will most likely be another statistic.   

Can you build a business on a poor foundation then come back and fix it later? Of course! But it will be painful, it will be expensive, and your odds for business failure dramatically increase.  There is truth to the ole sayings, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” and “experience is the best teacher”; however, why should we settle for a rough start or bad experience to be successful?  Mentors are supposed to lead, guide, direct, and teach us so that we don’t have to suffer the same errors that he and his mentor did.  Don’t worry; you will have plenty of learning experiences.  A good mentor will allow you to make your own choices and learn from them, but he shouldn’t let you make the big ones. 

Can I build my business without a mentor?  Sure, it is possible to learn it all on your own, but why reinvent the wheel.  There are 1000’s of entrepreneurs who are producing phenomenal revenue through online marketing.  With the growth rate and continued diversification of the internet, this industry will be healthy for many years to come. There’s no doubt that there is still plenty of room for 1000’s more to obtain the same earning potential as these industry leaders, and many will.  But most will do it with a mentor.  It is simply the smartest way to reach your goals in the shortest time. 

How do you find the right mentor?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  It’s really not that difficult, but it does require some researching, analyzing, and listening to your instinct.  As you do your online business research, a few people will strike you as being smart, successful, and well versed in the business you are pursuing.  Write these names down.  Before you choose the one that will mentor you, check them out thoroughly.  Visit all of their websites.  Run their name and business name(s) through several search engines.  See what others are saying about them.  A few negative comments here and there should weigh little on your decision, but follow your instinct.  If you see a trend indicating something negative, steer away; it’s probably true.  Get to know this person well before you trust him/her to lead you.  Find the answers to these questions: 

• Is this person currently where I want to be someday?  It is insane to follow someone that hasn’t done what you want to do.
• Does this person have other successful followers?  Not only do you want someone who is successful for himself, you want a person that knows how to make others successful…how to make you successful.
• Does this person have the bandwidth to invest his time in you?  This answer may require you to conduct an interview with the prospective mentor; however, the answer to this question is extremely important.  Successful mentors are highly sought after.  Otherwise, they probably wouldn’t be successful.  They may be spreading themselves too thin and your business will suffer because of it. 

You are the one who decides how far your business will go.  It is your choices that will make your business successful.  Don’t blindly allow your mentor to be chosen for you.