Posted by Stephen Brockelman on May 04, 2000 at 00:32:28:
In Reply to: Where can I get a mentor? posted by BM on May 03, 2000 at 12:09:52:
Greetings!
I can tell you that getting a mentor is not so
difficult. Turning off a potential mentior is so
very much easier.
Here's what I mean by this:
First look at what you consider will be your
competition. See what the do right and identify
what you feel they do wrong. What you wouldn't
want to do. Start making lists of the "good" Web
sites and look at who they list as references.
You don't want to go to the same people, of course. However you can identify the "type" of
people who will help you with your project. Write
a nice, tight, concise (less than 200 words) note
and send it to several people. Your first sentence
should be, "I'd like to ask for your assistance..."
You'll be surprised at the outcome. You really will. State that you are a student on a budget. And make it clear that you won't impose on their time unduly.
That being said, here's what you should not do:
1. Don't send your entire business plan and ask
how to refine it.
2. Don't send your entire marketing plan and ask
how to make it more cost effective.
3. Don't send more than one email to one person
more than once each week. Even that may be too much. If the mentor sees you, via your words, as being a pest... you've lost a great resource.
Whatever you send, edit it down to the least possible number of words.
And you know what? Work it as who you really are, and who you really want to become and you will have a mentor in no time!
I wish you all the best,
Stephen