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  The entrepreneurial path is tough to navigate, even in the best of times. So if you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll very likely appreciate it if someone—a mentor – with valuable experience in the art of building a business were to actually take you by the hand and lead you through it all. The insights of a business mentor gained through years of learning by doing could save you a lot of effort and get you closer to your goals.
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What if you’re already sold on how important mentors are to succeeding in business, but don’t know how to find one that’s a true match for you? This article shows you 6 places you can find such figures. Here they are:

Your Contacts

There may be people within your own circle—family, friends, acquaintances, or other contacts –who could play the role of mentor just fine. Ideally, they’ll be individuals who have a wealth of experience doing something similar to what you’re working on (running and scaling a venture). This, along with a decent character and a willingness to help, is all you should be looking for. You don’t have to extend your search beyond the familiar if these traits are present in persons you already know. Interestingly, you can ramp up these contacts by attending the Connect Nigeria Business Mixer.

Networking Events

Business networking events provide you with a great opportunity to meet and interact with businesspeople at various stages of their careers and entrepreneurial journeys. These events may enable you to connect with one or a few individuals whose experience you’ll find valuable. Examples include meetups, the alleys of industry conferences and exhibitions, and even functions that aren’t exactly set up for business purposes but are attended by the sort of persons you’d like to mentor you. The Connect Nigeria Club Connect presents such an avenue. Here, things are made much easier for you.
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Volunteering

Be sure to check out opportunities to volunteer your services, especially those that could place you within the reach of potential mentors. These openings present themselves once in a while. It’s up to you to take advantage of them. Even if you aren’t spending time on income-earning activity in such situations, they’ll yield results that are even better for you in the long run.

LinkedIn

As the social media platform of choice for professionals across the globe, LinkedIn is a goldmine for anyone who wants to find a mentor. If there are business leaders on LinkedIn whose mentorship you desire, you should begin by sending them a request to connect. After establishing a connection, you may go on to engage their posts for a while (e.g. share your thoughts on what they’ve said). Do this with moderate frequency, and they’ll likely notice you. Then go on to introduce yourself to them via a direct message, and take things up from there.

Local Chamber of Commerce

Many local chambers of commerce run a mentorship program. Initiatives like this allow them to support businesses in their district or city with the information and resources they need to thrive. For example, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a mentorship program, which it says is one of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. Be sure to check with the chamber of commerce in your city for such a program, if they have one.
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Incubator and Accelerator Programs

There are several incubation and accelerator programs in Nigeria, designed to help SMEs and startups to develop and scale rapidly and efficiently. Most of these programs offer mentorship opportunities to the businesses that come under their wings. If you’re desperately in need of support from experts and seasoned founders, you should consider applying to one of the numerous incubators and accelerators that serve entities like yours.

Final Words

The advice and resources you’ll get from a good mentor can transform your business for the better. So it’s important that you find one who will be invested in your success as an entrepreneur. You can seek out the right mentor for you from across the various options we’ve talked about here. Featured Image Source: Entrepreneurs NG
Got a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com
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This article was first published on 31st August 2023

ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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