What is a mentor?  Are they a ‘coach’  – someone to hold you accountable to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself?  No, mentors are more involved and go much further than just cracking the whip to help you achieve short-term goals. Mentors are people who lead you to develop your long-term goals for success.

I am a Certified Mentor through the organization SCORE.  A mentoring session consists of many steps, the first of which is deciding what success means to you (the individual).  It is a deliberate process of identifying and working towards the end goal of success and balance in life. 

The next step is determining your answer to this question.  What would I be doing in my work life, social life, family life that would make me successful and at peace with my higher power?

We will then work together to develop a ‘success picture’.   We examine all of the physical ‘stuff’ in your life that you desire.  The home you want, schools for our children to attend, clothes to wear, the car we want to drive.  We look at all things material. 

The next step is to put a price tag on these things.  If it costs $15,000 per month or $1,500 per month to get something we desire, we now have a target income that we will need to earn each month.  This, in turn, lets us see what type of job or business can produce the income level our success model needs.

We can further research this earning model and see what skills, education level or licenses are needed to enter the possible fields or businesses.

Now we are ready to assess our strengths and weaknesses.  What do we like to do and how would we spend our time if money were not a consideration?  What stands in your way?  Analyze your barriers, whether personal or economic.

Weakness – lack of education, license or certifications needed, lack of ambition/laziness or no planning or goals in place.

Opportunities – In today’s job market, it may pay to start your own business.  Yes, we are in a recession, one of the worst in years.  However, it is only bad if you don’t have a job.  91% of American workers are moving ahead, even if their 401K’s are not.  There is money available and set aside on the sidelines, designated and waiting for innovative entrepreneurs that will produce.

Threats – Analyzing the problems in your area and how they will impact you.

In today’s job market the skills most sought after by employers are:

Not everyone has all of these skills, but if you feel you possess them, then present them to your boss or include them in your Business Plan.  Capitalize on them.  You may not be able to get tested for these skills, but you can do a self-test. 

• Which skills do you feel you most strongly possess?
• Which are your weak areas and you don’t care to address or improve upon them?
• What tasks bore you?  Which do you have an interest in learning or becoming more proficient at? 
• Which skills do other people value and ask you to assist them with?

Most importantly, know what you have a passion for and what makes you happy when you are doing it.  We always do better on the job, and in life, when we work on things we enjoy that bring us personal satisfaction.

Start on your ‘Journey of Significance’ today.  Contact me to learn about the mentoring packages I offer.

Tom Loegering

Author, Success or Failure-The Choice is Yours!