A mentor is anyone who can help you advance on your journey. It may be someone who takes you under his wing to teach you specific skills or introduce you to others who can help you. I consider anyone from whom I can learn to be a mentor, even if that learning takes place by reading a book or listening to an audio program.

When I was in the corporate world, I had mentors from whom I learned. They taught me skills that helped my thought processes, made me a better manager and more.

Since 1994, when I went into business for myself, I have had additional mentors. Some of them I knew. With others I had only online relationships. And there are some people I consider mentors with whom I have never had direct contact.

A mentor is anyone who can help you advance on your journey. It may be someone who takes you under his wing to teach you specific skills or introduce you to others who can help you. I consider anyone from whom I can learn to be a mentor, even if that learning takes place by reading a book or listening to an audio program.

Here are some ways you can learn from mentors:

Create a network of people in your industry. Some may be more advanced than you, while others are still beginners. It is likely, however, that all of you will be able to learn from each other. Even someone new to an industry has knowledge and experience they can share with others, and they may bring a fresh perspective to problem solving.

Offer a benefit to someone from whom you want to learn. Would you be willing to volunteer to work for them for a time, in exchange for the experience and knowledge? Could you help them make a contact or reach one of their goals, and develop a mutually-beneficial relationship?

Look for online relationships. It is often possible to contact even well-known experts through email. They may be willing to answer a simple question, or steer you in the right direction.

When you see someone succeeding, learn from them. Study what they do and how they do. Don’t copy them, but learn from them. Do they have skills you need to develop? How can you do so?

Many experts and industry leaders share their information through books, CDs, DVDs and other information products. Make it a habit to listen to one CD, take one online course, or read one book a week. (Or more, if you can make the time.)

Once you acquire ideas and inspiration, put them to use. It does no good to spend a lot of time learning if you do not use what you know.

What are you doing to keep learning?

Copyrightby Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady(tm)

Last week I attended the convention of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. These folks know how to put on a conference! There were lots of great educational sessions and networking opportunities. Attending an event like this not only gives me new brain food, it gets me excited about taking action, too.

Because the conference was in Grapevine, Texas, just “up the road a piece” from here in Sugar Land (well, about a five-hour drive, actually) I decided to drive.

This was my third road trip this year. I loaded some audio programs into my iPod and used the trip to stuff a bit more information into my brain while I drove. It seems that I don’t really listen to audio programs as well at home, because there are phone calls, laundry and other interruptions to distract me. Cars and airplanes have become my classrooms.

Between the conference itself and the drive up and back, I got lots of fresh ideas and inspiration to continue growing my business. I am already implementing some of them, and making plans to do more.

What are you doing to keep learning?

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