Importance of Personal Development: Find a Mentor

By Mark Spain Real Estate

One of the core values at Mark Spain Real Estate is to constantly grow and improve. We are relentless in the pursuit of self-improvement because our team strives to perform at the highest level possible.

One key factor involved in personal development is finding mentors. If you are wanting to stride confidently down the path of self-improvement, check out why it’s essential to find a mentor!

Why Find a Mentor?

Our CEO and Founder, Mark Spain, favors the phrase, “Never be the smartest person in the room.” These are words for us to live by. There is always something to be learned from someone else. Walking into a room and assuming you know more than everyone else means you stop learning. A recent publication from Forbes stated, “Humans are not always wired to be in growth mode. We set goals and then fall short.”

By finding a good mentor, you are finding someone who will help you set measurable goals. You are 42% more likely to achieve your goals by writing them down. However, mentors help provide a strategy and means of action to start attacking those goals. They can provide clarity and insights you would not have on your own.

Additionally, mentors help you maintain consistency. As we mentioned previously in Building Good Habits, consistency is key when cultivating excellent habits or setting goals. Mentors are individuals who will challenge you to improve. They will push you to set new goals and stride towards new successes.

When you communicate your goals to your mentors, you are being held accountable. By finding a mentor, you are committing to never being complacent. Of course, they won’t just hold you accountable and leave you out to dry, mentors will provide good counsel and advice when you feel stuck in a rut.

We all draw inspiration from the experience of others. It’s why we listen to podcasts, motivational speeches and watch public speakers. When you find a mentor, you find a resource of personal experiences to motivate you and draw from. We at Mark Spain Real Estate encourage our agents to study their peers and ask questions.

By asking questions and being vulnerable, you are opening yourself up to the experiences of others. Erin Schmidt, CEO of Google, said “We run this company on questions not answers.” When you ask your mentor a question; not only can it inspire you, but it can help you avoid making costly mistakes.

Finding Your Mentor

Remember, mentoring is not all about you. Actively seek out a mentor so that you may grow and develop. We have a few tips on how to find a mentor:

• Find someone you want to be like: This isn’t limited to emulating someone who has the job you want. It’s important to search for someone who has similar characteristics as you when trying to find a mentor.
• Make the ask: It can be in an informal setting. Invite this person out for coffee or lunch so you can get to know them better. Come prepared with questions and let the conversation flow.
• Let the relationship evolve organically: Don’t set high expectations. A mentorship is simply a relationship. Don’t force it.
• Don’t check out if you feel challenged: Your mentor is taking their time to guide you. If they call you out, remain open to their coaching and feedback. Remember, you signed up for it.
• Commit to the process: As The Compound Effect stresses, consistency is key. You can’t expect a mentorship to last a month. Mentors are for life. Just as they commit to you, commit to them.

If your path of personal development leads you to a new challenging career, contact us! Looking to buy or sell to start that next chapter of your life? We would love to help.