Small Business Online: Thriving in a Virtual World

Bridges, Roadblocks and Mentoring Groups, Oh My! – Part One

We’ve all heard the expression that there’s strength in numbers. We’ve also heard that misery loves company. Why do I mention these two ideas in the same blog? Because when we’re talking about success groups or mentoring groups, WHO you pick and HOW you pick them is vital to the group’s success and to YOUR success. In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi, “Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Now that might sound a little bit dramatic when we’re talking about mentoring, but believe me, it isn’t. If it’s done right, your mentoring group becomes where you learn shortcuts and how to avoid the detours of your industry, and it is how you can build some of your BEST bridges to meaningful networking. 

When you think of who to invite into your mentoring circle, your number one goal is to avoid toxicity. Regardless of what else they might bring to the table, avoid toxic naysayers at all costs. Your mentoring circle needs to be a small group of like-minded, forward thinking success builders. It can be either a group of people from different industries who bring varying talents to the forum, or your mentoring group can be made up of friends and competitors from WITHIN your industry. No matter which way your mentoring group goes, definitely seek out those who are further along on the road to success. If you’re the group organizer, you can begin to search out your group through professional organizations or even online (check out the groups on Linkedin). You can also join existing mentoring-type groups through www.MeetupGroups.com and keep close track of whom you connect with. Amazing networking connections can definitely become the seeds of amazing mentoring groups.

For more on how to create a successful agenda week after week and create success for every member of your group, check in for Part Two on this topic later in the week. 

To your continued success,

Dave Churchville
dave@myclientspot.com
ClientSpot by ExtremePlanner Software
http://www.myclientspot.com