Write down any problems or specific requirements you might have regarding the field and subject matter. It would be helpful to answer the following questions:  What would you like to learn? What are you looking for from your mentor? How will the mentorship "look"? How often would you like to meet? Where? Create a list of potential mentors according to your criteria and desires for the relationship. Order the list, starting with your top choices.  Look for the "total package." If you admire someone's business acumen but can't stand them as a person, they won't make a good mentor. Aim high. The rich and famous have personal assistants who learn from them and make connections based on that relationship. Why not you? If Donald Trump would be your ideal business mentor, put him at the top of the list. Write his office a letter, try to schedule a meeting, or apply to be on The Apprentice.  Check if your company or school has a formal mentoring program that would line up a mentor for you. If so, see if it fulfills your goals and enroll in the program. Going up to a professor after class and asking, "I've been thinking: Will you be my mentor?" might scare them off if you don't explain what you mean. It's a big role and a big commitment to ask of someone, if all you are looking for is, "Can we meet for coffee and talk about physics sometimes?" Be specific and explain what you're looking for.  Use "mentor" as a verb more than a noun. Saying "I could use some mentoring in figuring out how to get my sales up next quarter. You seem to have it together, Bob. You mind getting some drinks about talking about it now and then?" is more attractive for your potential mentor than, "I need you as a mentor. I have to improve my sales. Help." Make sure you don't give someone the wrong impression. If the salesperson you admire is of the opposite sex, this could sound a lot like asking for a date. Keep it at the office or on campus if you're concerned about making it sound that way. Work your way down the list until someone agrees to fulfill the relationship as you've outlined it. If you don't get anyone the first go-around, don't worry. It may have nothing to do with you and more to do with the person's schedule or other issues. Start again and consider possible mentors who've got more time on their hands, or who may be more willing to work with you. Don't leave the relationship hanging once you've gotten someone to agree. Make concrete plans to get together and hit a bucket of golf balls to improve your swing or go over your calculus homework on a specific day at a specific time. If the first meeting goes well, plan subsequent meetings. You might consider asking at that point, "Mind if we make this a regular thing?"
حدد أي دور تحب أن يقوم به المرشد ناحيتك. اصنع قائمة من الاحتمالات. فكر بما ستقوله. ابدأ في الوصول إلى مرشديك المحتملين. أعد خطط اللقاء.