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The Five Minute Guide to Choosing an Internet Business Mentor
How do you spot the one person who has the perfect set of skills, values and experiences that uniquely qualifies them to be your mentor?
For me it was easy. I thought about where I wanted to be in business and I looked for someone who was already doing it. Then tagged along around them to learn all that I could about what they were doing and what they had done to get where they were.
It would be a mistake to make your choice too quickly or to treat the decision too lightly – so take your time and play amateur investigator for a while before deciding to hitch your wagon to their pony.
Google Them.
That’s pretty simple isn’t it? Drop their name into Google and see what turns up. This won’t work with everyone, especially if they have a common name. You can also try searching for their business name or search for a keyword phrase that you would imagine that they would want to rank high for.
Search at Technorati.
Technorati.com tracks thousands upon thousands of blogs so if your potential mentor is the topic of discussion you’re likely to find them here. What are people saying about her? Strong people generally draw strong opinions about them so the presence of some negative comments shouldn’t be an immediate deal breaker – dig deeper to decide if you agree or discount the remarks being made about them.
Stalk Her (In a Good Way)
Read her blog, subscribe to her mailing list, follow her threads on public web forums, seek out her articles on web sites. What can you learn about her business philosophy and personal values? Does she seem to be consistent across the board?
Who Are Her Friends?
Who’s linking to her website? Who’s publishing her writing? Who is on her blogroll? What products are being recommended on her site? Bird of a feather flock together and crows are really annoying in crowds.
Does She Care?
There are most likely hundreds of successful entrepreneurs who could have a positive impact on you and your budding business but the majority could care or less about taking the time to mentor someone else.
The few who do care about lending a helping hand and advice to newcomers are often in high demand, so grabbing their attention and convincing them to invest their time and talents in you can be challenging.
Once you identify the perfect candidate, you could make a mentoring relationship with you more attractive by suggesting a short or long term working internship. You will offer them your indentured servitude for a period of time in exchange for their training and input. You’d better be serious about the offer because a mentor worth learning from will likely work the shine off your shoes.
Before you get worried, let me assure you that all mentoring relationship aren’t typified by forced labor. You may find that your chosen mentor is perfectly happy to sit with you for coffee once a week or so to catch up on what you’re doing and give you tips and feedback, no strings attached.
Depending on where you are in business, you may not need or even be ready for a mentoring relationship with someone at the top of your field. A newcomer really only needs to work with someone a few miles down the road from where they are – and you can always look for someone new when you find yourself outgrowing your early helpmates.
Everyone should be learning from someone – one thing you’ll notice if you do spend much time investigating successful entrepreneurs is that the people who you view as being the top dog usually have their eyes on someone else thinking the same thing.
This article is available for reprint at LadyPens.com
Ok Thanks
Two words – “Ok, thanks” or another derivative “Thank you.” Why is it so difficult for some people to use those two words?
When you let someone cut in during a traffic jam, don’t you expect the other driver to give you “the wave”? It’s the universal “Thank You” signal from driver to driver. I don’t mind letting cars in once in a while – as I believe in that whole karma thing. But admittedly, I get a little bent out of shape if I happen to let a car sneak in front of me and I don’t get “the wave.” They’re just supposed to say “Thank You.”
Likewise if someone takes a moment to hold the door open for you – it’s assumed that you will utter “thank you” to the person who just took 15 seconds out of his or her day to ensure the door was not shut in your face.
The same goes for online etiquette. Why is it so difficult for some people to email you back after you provide a response to say, “Thank you” or “Ok, thanks.” I agree there comes a point where the email banter needs to come to a conclusion – thank you, no thank You, no really, thank You – ok, that is a bit redundant.
However I cannot tell you the number of times that I receive an email from someone, either a peer, customer or a potential recruit asking for information. I love questions; I have no problem responding. Yet when I respond in detail, sometimes multiple paragraphs explaining whatever information it was that the requester was after, many, many times I do not get so much as a two word response – “Ok thanks!”
I don’t think it’s asking too much for a courteous response to acknowledge receipt of the information. It’s not like I’m hoping for a lengthy dissertation of gratitude. But c’mon people – no response at all? That’s just downright rude and unprofessional.
Busy, busy, busy – yes, I know. Everyone is busy. People are far too busy to meet for coffee; far too busy to pick up the phone – but too busy to type two words consisting of eight letters before slamming on the “send” key?
If you’re really that busy, and I know none of YOU are that busy, because you’d never take the time to read all of these words if you were too busy to say, “Ok thanks” – but if you’re really so busy that you don’t have time to be polite, then perhaps I should be asking you, “How may I help?” Because if you’re too busy for manners, then you definitely need some help setting priorities or something!
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
Let’s Shake on That
The handshake … the universal sign of peace, greetings and salutations. Yet it is sad to see the number of business people, particularly women, who do not use the handshake or fail to shake properly.
Have you ever stuck your hand out to greet someone who left you hanging? I have, how terribly awkward and pathetic. I’ve also been greeted by people who want to give me a ‘high five’ or a ‘pound’ (fists touching). Those improvised handshakes may have a place, however it’s not protocol in business.
Male or female – gender should make no difference. The proper time for a handshake would be if you are greeting someone, being introduced to someone, introducing yourself or are leaving. And by all means, please shake like you mean business.
I cannot stand it when I get a wimpy limpy finger shake. What the heck is that? My dog shakes better than that. I do not want a wussy paw shake. The proper way to shake hands is webs touching. The web is the area between your thumb and forefinger. Your hand should be extended firmly, palm facing in, thumb pointed up, and then once hands are joined, squeeze for approximately three seconds.
Don’t try to overpower the person and jam rings into the sides of fingers to show who is in control. No one likes that. However a woman who can give a firm handshake will sometimes surprise our male counterparts. Too many woman either don’t shake or do the wimpy limpy.
Sweaty hands? Ick. Please wipe them off first. Use your socks if you have nothing else appropriate to wipe them on. Also while one may find it sweet to shake with two hands, it’s a little too personal for those whom you’ve just met. It’s more endearing than professional. It’s also protocol to stand when shaking. It’s disrespectful to remain seated.
To recap – male or female should shake with a firm, full hand web to web handshake. Shake when greeting, being introduced or leaving. Stand up. No wimpy limpy. You’re a business professional, not a canine. No high fives and no pounding. Deal?
Great. Now let’s shake on that.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
Home Business Jigsaw Puzzle Connection
I love doing jigsaw puzzles. Time seems to stand still when I am buried in 1,000 puzzle pieces. I have an interesting one that I am currently putting together. It’s a Springbrok – my favorite brand. However, the puzzle inside does not appear to be what the box shows it to be. So I’m going at it blindly, not sure what the outcome will be.
As I was working on the puzzle last night I was thinking about all the similarities between putting the pieces together and owning your own home based business.
Problem solving – I know that I need a black flat piece with an innie on the left and an outtie on the right. Now all I have to do it find that piece. I have to actively look for it. Also whether I’m working on my Scentsy website or overcoming prospect objections, I have to actively look for exactly what I need.
Perseverance – Just one more piece; I just need to find the one with the pink tip, and then I can stop. How many times, as home business owners do we find ourselves working on something but we stop before we complete the task? We need to keep on keeping on until we find that one piece we are looking for.
Sharpen the saw – Ever look into a pile of puzzle pieces, pick one up and set it exactly where it belongs, almost instantly? I have. It’s a very satisfying feeling to accomplish that. Working on jigsaw puzzles sharpens your hand eye coordination that can be used in many areas of your business. Continue reading
Can You Do Me a Favor?
Six words that should never be uttered by a WAHM are “Can you do me a favor?” Correction, the only time those six words should be uttered by a work at home business person is if she is asking someone to assist her by holding the door open.
If these words describe you, never, never say them again: “Can you do me a favor and host a party for me?” “Can you do me a favor? I’m only $200 away from reaching my goal. Can you place an order from me?” “Can you do a favor for me and place an order. I’ll place one from you next month, I promise!”
That thinking is backwards. You are not in business so that customers can do YOU a favor. You are in business so that you can make your customers’ lives easier, better, healthier or prettier (and yes to make a profit too!). If no one needs or wants your product or service, why bother to be in business?
Don’t manipulate people to patronize your business. Can you really feel good about yourself and your business if you need to guilt or pressure people into buying? What message are you sending? That you believe in your products? Or that what you’re hocking may not be that good or of value, but if they’ll do you a favor – you might actually make a sale?
Consider this – if you went to a restaurant where the food was second to none; or if you saw a movie that was one of the best you’ve ever seen, wouldn’t you want to tell the world about it? You probably couldn’t shut up about it and want everyone within ear reach to have the same pleasant experience.
Or would you say, “Can you do me a favor, try that new restaurant?” That just sounds ridiculous. If you can’t stand behind the product or service your business offers, then now might be a good time to close up shop. You should be able to have the same enthusiasm you easily have when talking about the fettuccini Alfredo as you do when sharing your business with others.
You were just getting ready to say, “But I don’t want to impose,” weren’t you? Bite your tongue! You’re not even allowing your contacts to make their own decision whether or not they are interested in your products. How audacious of you to take that decision process away from them. Remember: Some will. Some won’t. So what?
At least give people the opportunity to hear about your exciting, fabulous product. If they didn’t care for the pasta or were bored with the movie; it’s no reflection on you. Neither will it be when you offer them the opportunity to host a party and receive free product.
Stop asking for favors and start offering choices; you’ll be pleasantly amazed at the results!
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
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