How to Find Mentors

Source: Possibilities for CPA Firm Leaders

Following are excerpts from a blog entry by Rita Keller, reproduced with permission.

Think about people walking on the beach, early morning (like I am this week). They continually scan the shore for sea shells. Most of the shells are in pieces, chipped or broken. Here and there they find one that is whole. Even when they have all they can carry, if they find one that seems perfect, that is “all together,” they can’t resist picking up just one more (because the whole ones are rare and precious).

Mentors are like that. As you walk the beach of your professional life, you come across people who “have it all together.” They are rare and precious and you just can’t resist picking them up.

Search for these people in your life and ask them for help. I have been so fortunate in having had many in my life and certainly more than one at a time. Some of your best advice and counsel come from these people. (Tip: I have had bosses as mentors, teachers as mentors, friends as mentors, business acquaintances as mentors and paid mentors/coaches… who became friends—collect them all!)