How to choose a Network Marketing Mentor ? This is the 6th post in the "Hold Yourself Accountable 2012" Series

In life we all need guidance, children needs their parents, athletes turn to their coaches, artists looks up to their idols, actors are inspired by role models,  employees motivated by managers, managers directed by directors.

We are social beings, inspired and influenced by other human beings, for better or for worse, whether we choice to be or not. So let's look a closer look on how to choose a  network marketing mentor.  .Consider this.

When you first start you’ll require some hand holding, but ultimately you’ll want a mentor who

WILL NOT TELL YOU ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

Now you think…That is ridiculous! Well think again…

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

This principle applies to network marketing. Look for a mentor who will show you where to look for the answer to your question, where to get the training you need. This way you’ll avoid being totally dependent on someone else, you have the knowledge, and as I always say

“Knowledge is power when implemented”.

The best network marketing mentor will guide you through the starting gate, but ultimately empowered you enough to have become an independent entrepreneur.

As 2012 has begun, your winning alliances are starting to form, ask yourself who your mentor is.  Mentors are instruments in your growth in the network marketing industry, a mentor will step by step teach you like a teacher and a trusted counselor.

He is someone who inspires you, who influences you and who makes a powerful impact on you. Someone you admire and who has the strength of character you can lean on when needed. He will hold you accountable and push you to keep improving and expanding.

A few Qualities to look for when choosing a network marketing mentor

• Your mentor must be someone who has already achieved what you are looking to achieve, someone ahead of the process you’re about to make, someone experienced.

• Your mentor must care about your success and willing to selflessly support you all the way. Must be willing to sacrifice his time, effort and other necessary resources to enable your success. He must be committed to your success as much as you are.

• A mentor must never compete with their mentee (the one being mentored).

• Your mentor must be someone you can really trust, someone you are able to let into your life, into your inner thoughts. Someone you feel comfortable discussing your finances, your shortcomings, your struggles and fears and your family situation with.

• A true mentor stands by you no matter what.

• A true mentor is proud of their mentee, he will celebrate your growth and success, he finds happiness and satisfaction in your accomplishments, not for his glorification, but because your realizing your dreams and fulfilling yourself.

By now you may have realized that finding a true mentor is not that easy. There are and will be countless success coaches and leaders who will inspire you, but true mentors do not come along every day.

In the network marketing industry, people you may have looked up to early in your journey, tend to withdrawal themselves from you as you become more successful, especially when you attain the same or even higher level than them. 

The reason is simple, the commission they earn from your production becomes lower and the making business-sense to invest their time on you will fade.

Competitiveness will appear at this point. I’m sure that most MLM (or Network Marketing) uplines are great coaches of success, but not necessarily mentors. It is important to understand the difference.   

A fruitful mentor/mentee relationship goes beyond money and business gains. It is a personal connection where one (mentor) invests in the success of you (mentee) However, as much as the mentor will hold you accountable and push you to keep improving and expanding, you must first Hold Yourself Accountable.

A few qualities expected from you, the mentee

• Must commit to your own success, as the mentor sacrifices time and effort on you.

• Must be true and honest about the level and objectives of your business

• Must be open to real, true feedback from you mentor (Good or bad)

• Must never second-guess your mentor at any point.

• You must never challenge them, no matter how much you disagree something. Feeling that you know more that your mentor and your decisions are better will definitely wreck the relationship. Arrogance is a killer in this equation.

• Must always respect your mentor and cherish the relationship.

• You must also be supportive, like all relationships require engagement both ways, giving and taking. I cannot survive a one way street with only you receiving.

• You must appreciate your mentor.

• Most importantly, you must take your business serious. Most mentors really don’t have time to waste trying to make you take your own business serious. They will more on to others who are more deserving of their time and efforts.

All relationships are very delicate. I highly recommend to keep an open communication line with the ones you choose to work with. All parties must feel comfortable to talk about issues concerning the business at anytime.

Preferably the relationship will appear through a process of inspiration, influence and positive impact, a two way stimulation of intellectual exchange and mutual trust & respect.

Remember, to have found a good mentor, is to have found a gem. Once you found your mentor, protect that relation with all you’ve got.

So, ask yourself, who is your mentor? and use this how to choose a network marketing mentor post as a basic guide.

If you feel that you could use some further advise, simply contact me, I would be happy to help you

What makes your relationship special and rewarding, is it truly selfless, caring supportive and healthy?  Is your mentor holding you accountable, are you holding yourself accountable?

Do you take time to let him or her know that you need their guidance? Don’t assume that they know.

Leadership is a privilege and humility is your best trait, both you and your mentor.

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