Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

You know what's wild? When I chat with job candidates, hardly any of them have mentors. Yet when you look at the big shots like Richard Branson or Steve Jobs, they all had someone showing them the ropes. Pretty interesting, right?

So why should you grab yourself a mentor? First off, they're like your personal accountability buddy. You know when you say you'll hit the gym but never do? Well, once you tell your mentor your goals, you're way more likely to actually do the stuff you said you would!

They're also like your GPS for success - keeping you from wandering off track from those big dreams you wrote down (and probably stuffed in a drawer somewhere). Plus, they've been in your shoes before, so when you're freaking out about something, they're like "Been there, done that, here's how to handle it."

The best part? Unlike your mom or BFF who might sugarcoat things, a good mentor will give it to you straight. No fluff, just facts!

Now, finding a mentor isn't like ordering pizza - you can't just call one up and have them delivered. Here's the deal:

• Start with people you already know and respect - maybe grab a coffee and see if you click
• Ask your friends and family for recommendations
• If you're eyeing someone specific, don't just cold-call them. Follow them on social media, engage with their content, show them you're not just some random person

But here's the secret sauce: You gotta be someone worth mentoring! Be super passionate, come prepared (nobody likes their time wasted), and think about what kind of mentee you'd want if the roles were reversed.

Remember, great mentors are rare - they're valuable and their time is precious. So when you find one, make it count!