HOW DO YOU FIND A MENTOR?
Look around your industry for successful businesspeople who retired two to five years ago. (During their first two years of retirement, they are still enjoying their extended vacation and haven’t yet realized the tedium of playing golf all day. After five years, they may be a little too out of touch.) Make a list of five such individuals. Then write each one a nice letter telling him that you admire his accomplishments and hope he can give you some business advice.
If he lives nearby, offer to take him to lunch. If not, ask if he has time for a short phone call. Whether in person or over the phone, ask lots of questions. Listen attentively to his answers. With any luck, your personalities will click … and you’ll have someone who will help you now and in the future.
- CF built her specialized physical therapy business from zero to $90,000 in 15 months.
- AS’s nutritional-supplement business—just five years old—is grossing $5 million, netting more than 20 percent.
- JF’s educational program for children is paying him close to $100,000 a year after less than three years.
- WC made $250,000 in less than 18 months—on top of his regular salary—by running a mail-order business on the side.
- PR built his health-product business to more than $20 million in six years (and became a multimillionaire in the process).
- KY’s business pays her a very nice salary—plus she shares $500,000 in profits from a career-counseling program ...
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