Comments on: How to ask someone to be your business mentor http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor How to communicate Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:53:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Dalton Filho http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-345715 Dalton Filho Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:46:40 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-345715 Finally, someone who knows what it feels like being a mentor! Your first point said it all: some people will take a mile if you give an inch. I am quite generous myself, but I've been hiding this quality because some people just don't have a clue. I would add another point: watch out for the bias. Common wisdom has it that nothing is given so freely as advice: many people will simply advise you to be like them. I like mentors who will guide me, but will still allow me to be myself. Finally, someone who knows what it feels like being a mentor! Your first point said it all: some people will take a mile if you give an inch. I am quite generous myself, but I’ve been hiding this quality because some people just don’t have a clue. I would add another point: watch out for the bias. Common wisdom has it that nothing is given so freely as advice: many people will simply advise you to be like them. I like mentors who will guide me, but will still allow me to be myself.

]]> By: How To Ask Someone To Be Your Business MentorBusiness Opportunities Weblog http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-1661 How To Ask Someone To Be Your Business MentorBusiness Opportunities Weblog Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:05:51 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-1661 [...] Matthew Stibbe at BadLanguage.com: DOs [...] [...] Matthew Stibbe at BadLanguage.com: DOs [...]

]]> By: Business Opportunities Weblog | How To Ask Someone To Be Your Business Mentor http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-1633 Business Opportunities Weblog | How To Ask Someone To Be Your Business Mentor Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:09:45 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-1633 [...] Matthew Stibbe at BadLanguage.com: DOs [...] [...] Matthew Stibbe at BadLanguage.com: DOs [...]

]]> By: David http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-1580 David Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:23:48 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-1580 Thanks for those great pieces of advice. It's easy to say that they're common sense, but unfortunately so many people don't practice common sense! Thanks for those great pieces of advice. It’s easy to say that they’re common sense, but unfortunately so many people don’t practice common sense!

]]> By: Philippa Kennealy http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-1572 Philippa Kennealy Sat, 02 Sep 2006 05:15:32 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-1572 Hi Matthew Loved this list - it's just what my target audience of aspiring physician entrepreneurs needs to help them step away from the independence they are accustomed to, and reach out for help. In today's post, I quoted your list of "do's and don'ts" on my new blog, as you said it better than I could! Hi Matthew

Loved this list - it’s just what my target audience of aspiring physician entrepreneurs needs to help them step away from the independence they are accustomed to, and reach out for help.

In today’s post, I quoted your list of “do’s and don’ts” on my new blog, as you said it better than I could!

]]> By: Doug http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-business-mentor#comment-1545 Doug Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:08:06 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/?p=269#comment-1545 The is a very good primer. I asked the leader of a VC angel group that decided NOT to fund my company to be my mentor. My goal was not to convince him that we WERE good enough to get the cash rather getting me where I want to go with the company and overall career. I created an in depth biography, gave goals, asked questions, etc. We have a very good relationship and I'm concious of not overstepping that boundary into "please tell me what to do with my company". He's introduced me to many high level contacts and positioned me as "an expert" to be listened to for some. Although not critical, I think we can all use this kind of coaching. I try to model his behavior...and if I do it properly, perhaps someday I'll be a VC and mentor as well. The is a very good primer. I asked the leader of a VC angel group that decided NOT to fund my company to be my mentor. My goal was not to convince him that we WERE good enough to get the cash rather getting me where I want to go with the company and overall career.

I created an in depth biography, gave goals, asked questions, etc. We have a very good relationship and I’m concious of not overstepping that boundary into “please tell me what to do with my company”. He’s introduced me to many high level contacts and positioned me as “an expert” to be listened to for some.

Although not critical, I think we can all use this kind of coaching. I try to model his behavior…and if I do it properly, perhaps someday I’ll be a VC and mentor as well.

]]>