• Identify someone who has gone through challenges and still come out on the other side . You have much to learn from this individual .
• Your mentor needs to have a great network that he can share or open for you . It is not about the quantity , but more about the quality .
• Look for a mentor who has the time to sit down with you on a regular basis . Constant contact means that one can build a deep relationship where your mentor understands you well and can suggest options based on your strengths .
• Commit time and be proactive in reaching out to your mentor . Initiative is always appreciated and will be reciprocated by your mentor .
• Ensure that your mentor has the same values as you do . A mentee who values integrity cannot be in a mentoring relationship with a mentor who is corrupt or unethical .
Finding a mentor is not always easy but recently introduced in Kenya is the My Prosper App . This is a web based app that connects experienced professionals to those looking for advice . Rather than a mentor mentee relationship , My Prosper App focuses on an advisor advisee relationship , where one can connect with an experienced advisor in whichever area one needs help . The app allows individuals looking for information to easily connect to advisors who they would probably not have had easy access to .
Again , just as in the mentoring relationship , building trust and a rapport is key with an advisor . The good thing is with such a huge pool of advisors to choose from , one cannot miss finding the right person to share advice with you .
Some of the topics the advisors can assist with include career growth , personal branding , work life integration , interviewing skills , networking and more . The advisors have a range of skills , many have worked in blue chip organizations , others have mentored in various programs and quite a few are professional coaches trained in helping you be the very best version of yourself .
The service can be accessed through myprosper . app where one needs to log in and choose the area of interest . This is a Kenyan innovation founded by the lovely Topyster Muga , a guru in the area of tech and financial services , both areas that marketers do not usually get exposed to in the course of professional marketing training , but quite necessary to be a great marketer .
Topyster looked back at her career and noticed that she always had the right people around her in the form of advisors and mentors , who helped her succeed . The idea of providing a platform to others was born and she went ahead to launch My Prosper App to bring together advisors and advisees on a platform that embraced technology .
Whatever you choose , be it a mentor , an advisor or a coach , just know that you can get to wherever you want with a little help from others . All these interventions are life changing ; working with someone who sees the talent and ability in you and helps bring it out of you !
Thrity Engineer-Mbuthia is a seasoned marketing professional and a personal development coach . Want to build your leadership skills ? Drop her a line at : Mycoach @ thrityengineer . org for a free virtual 30 minute coaching consultation .
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