Why do you need a coach (or mentor used interchangeably)? That’s a fair question and there are many important reasons to have one. A coach has usually been through what you are going through and can see things that you can’t see. A mentor understands what you are experiencing right now and knows what you will experience if you continue to do what you are doing.

He or she can also recommend great products and services for you to use because they have tried most of them and know which ones are quality products and services and which ones aren’t. A mentor guides you through obstacles in your path and helps you to quickly and easily move closer and closer to your goal. A coach provides a support system that advises, steers, and cheers you on to success.

How do you find a coach or mentor? To find a mentor, you need to go where they are, whether it’s a live conference, an internet forum, their personal web site, or, if you’re on their mailing list, replying to an email they sent you. If you don’t have a particular person in mind and are just searching for someone that is knowledgeable about your niche, then you should go to forums where the kind of person that you want to mentor you will be.

Go to where the experts of your niche are and ask questions to people there to see if anyone is offering any mentoring programs. If you have any contacts or friends in your niche, ask them if they know of anyone that can be a mentor to you. Ask if they have been helped by anyone and if that person is available to help you as well.

Most mentors will have a set of guidelines that you must meet in order for them to mentor you. And they charge for their services. Why, you ask? This is an investment in your business, in your future, and showing that you are serious about going to the next level in your business and your life, and that you value their time as well as yours, is a key component to a successful coaching relationship. If you aren’t able to pay a mentor, some will allow you to use your skills in exchange for their help, but if they do, be ready to work and to work hard.

Entering into a mentoring relationship is a great decision for your career, regardless of what field it may be. You may actually find that you end up with several mentors and this may be necessary as you learn and grow. Just remember to be a good listener and to prove that you are serious about your decision to be a mentee. It’ll be the best decision for your future that you have ever made.