I remember the first time I asked my mentor to mentor me. I was quite nervous and afraid she would say no. I didn’t realize at the time that I was being silly. Why would she say no to my request – she was one of the most engaging, encouraging and respectful people I had ever met and these were the traits that inspired me to ask that awkward question, “would you mentor me?”
I came into formalized mentoring later in life, and only after an abundance of work experiences and mistakes. I have to admit when I think back, there were mentors but they often took on the guise of teachers and coaches, picked not by me but by the activities I participated in. It was only into my 30s that I started to actively look for mentors. I started to make a list of people whom I held in high regard in the community and that I believed I could learn from.
As I assembled my “team” of mentors I looked for certain skills and ways of thinking that I lacked. I also started to realize the immense power of mentoring as my mentors provided me with:
- Viewpoints and perspectives regarding business I had yet to experience, like how to start a business, what is needed legally, and what should I not do?
- An understanding of the importance of ethics and trust when doing business with others
- A completely new network of people and contacts
- Acted as references and even nominated me for awards
- Career advice – they gave me new ideas and prevented me from making costly business mistakes
- Guidance in business and in life
The one regret I hold is that I did not find my team of confidantes, friends, life coaches, business advisors, when I was a student. Mentors can become one or all of these things to you as you develop a long-lasting relationship.
For all these reasons and more, mentoring and giving back to the community through mentoring is one of my core values, and I believe I am lucky to be able to guide and help students reach their own goals and achieve their dreams.
If you are interested in being mentored and are starting a business or have a great idea but don’t know where to start – start with our Mentorship@AC application site! If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, have a look at our Mentor@AC application site.
You can always reach out to me at dorec1@algonquincollege.com or on Twitter @chrisWdore, I am sure we can help.
Posted by: Chris Doré, Entrepreneur in Residence, Waterfront Campus
Have you ever walked into a room and felt out of place, like why am I here or how come no one is talking to me? Well that is a common thought and feeling we all experience when we reach out and start networking. Any time we go outside of our comfort zone, we feel uncomfortable. The thing to remember is that this very feeling is just a prelude to personal growth. Networking and meeting new people are all a part of life and the many experiences we have. It is also one of the best ways to find a job, create a partnership, find customers, and mentors.
