Mentor Monday, January 12

Good Morning Campers!!  What are you thankful for today??  I'm thankful for my Mentors!!  Do you have a mentor??  There was a time when I had several, they were also my bosses. And then as I cut ties with that company, I didn't know anyone. As of today, I can think of the many Mentors that I have in my life. A Mentor is a wise and trusted teacher and counselor.  A few years ago, I realized that I didn't have people who I would call a mentor, I had peers and friends.  Which is still a great thing to have, however, I wanted someone who I could lean on, run ideas past and someone who would give me constructive feedback. I didn't want who was going to tell me what I wanted to hear, I wanted wise and trusted advice!! So how did I find mentors?  I stepped out of my comfort zone and went to networking events.  I met people. I shared my wise and trusted advice. I shared ideas with complete strangers. Which for me was extremely hard to do at the time. It's called practice.  You won't get any better unless you continue to practice. Next thing, I started setting up coffee meetings so I can pick their brains even more on my projects and ideas and they can pick mine.  If you had asked me what a mentor looked like before this last year, I would have described an old professor type person.  Well guess what, a couple of my mentors are younger than me!! They are truly Wise beyond their years. There goes my preconceived notion out the window! What I've learned through all I've done is Most People have Potential to be a Mentor. Most people want to share their experiences. Most people, who share your common interests, are willing to help any way they can as long as you reciprocate. The great thing about finding a Mentor, you have to reach out and Become a Mentor to someone else  first. Then you've shared a common bond and you know you can lean on each other when one of you need it the most.  May your Day be filled with someone who you can be an example for,  someone who you can Mentor and someone who is able to Mentor to you.  Happy Mentor Monday!!  

Networking Wednesday January, 7

Good Morning Campers!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for Networking. Networking is defined as a supportive system of sharing information among people having a common interest.  Have you heard of 1 Million Cups? Here's a link to it 1 Million Cups   It is a great platform for Entrepreneurs to present their business concepts to other entrepreneurs and receive feedback.  Perhaps an investor is there to offer an opportunity or another business person who has a similar idea and can collaborate. All of this happens in cities across the world on Wednesday mornings during which time, free coffee is being offered. It is a wonderful way to network for the greater good of business.
 Networking for the Greater Good. We can All benefit from that!! For an example, yesterday, I had two clients in my space and as one had been explaining her recent family trauma, the other one speaks up and says she been through the same experience with her family years ago and now things are so much better. She gave a gift to her. She gave her the Gift of Hope, just by networking. Ever go through something and you tell a friend and they say that they know the person that can help you?? Then that friend shares with you contact information of someone who can help. That is why we are put here on this planet together. To help one another. To extend a hand to someone who needs help or encouragement or to someone who needs advice on a project. That's what networking is really about. And then it always comes back to you. If you have empowered someone else by your encouragement or advice or help, you will receive back the same when you need it. Think about how different the world would look if we looked at each other as everyone had a piece of knowledge that we needed to propel us into the next step. Each one of us has a story. And each of us can learn from each other's story. So next time you're in the position of having an opportunity to empower someone else, Go For It!! When you Empower Others, you also Empower Yourself!! It all starts with networking for the greater good. May your day be filled with awesome people to network with who will provide you with wonderful advice, help or encouragement so that you can reach back and extend your hand to the person behind you next time. Happy Networking Wednesday!!