find a business mentor

you're googling your way through problems that someone else solved years ago. you're making mistakes that are completely avoidable. you're reinventing wheels that have already been perfected.

this isn't perseverance. it's stubbornness. and it's costing you years.

why you need a mentor

a mentor isn't a crutch. they're a shortcut. not a shortcut that skips the work — a shortcut that skips the unnecessary suffering.

the right mentor can:

• warn you about mistakes they've already made
• introduce you to people who would take you years to meet on your own
• help you see blind spots you literally cannot see yourself
• hold you accountable in ways friends and family can't
• compress your learning timeline dramatically

one conversation with someone who's been where you're going can be worth more than a year of trial and error.

where to find one

SCORE.org — free mentorship from retired and active business professionals. thousands of mentors across every industry. seriously, if you're starting or growing a business, this is a no-brainer.

your industry — identify people you admire who are 5-10 years ahead of you. not celebrities — accessible leaders. reach out with specific, thoughtful questions. most successful people are more willing to help than you'd expect.

apprenticeships — old-school but powerful. offer to work with someone you admire, even for free. the education you'll get is worth more than any paycheck.

networking events — not for collecting business cards. for finding one or two people whose experience aligns with where you want to go.

how to not be annoying

respect their time. come with specific questions, not vague "pick your brain" requests. do your homework first. implement their advice and report back on results. be someone worth investing in.

the best mentors aren't looking for people who need them — they're looking for people who will actually execute.

stop going it alone

asking for help isn't weakness. it's intelligence. the most successful people in history had mentors. you don't get extra points for suffering through problems that someone could have helped you avoid.

find the person who's already built what you're trying to build. learn from their scars.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.