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Brett and Kate McKay<br />
school” and prefer a phone call or letter over email. If they’re younger<br />
and a bit tech savvy, email is just fine.<br />
Tell your prospective mentor that you’re looking for a mentor in “x”<br />
area of your life and that you think he’d be a good one. Explain why<br />
you think he’d be a good mentor by sharing some of the positive traits<br />
about him that you wrote down. People love to be praised!<br />
If you get some positive feedback from your prospective mentor<br />
about the relationship, go on and start discussing logistics. Explain<br />
what you’re hoping to get out of the mentorship and get an idea of<br />
what he’d like to get out of it as well. Synchronize schedules and how<br />
you two plan to carry out the mentorship. The clearer you are at the<br />
beginning, the less likely for awkward moments down the line.<br />
If asking someone so directly to be your mentor makes you feel<br />
awkward (or you think it might make them feel uncomfortable) then<br />
just ask the man to have lunch or hang out some time. Start dropping<br />
by the professor’s office or your co-worker’s cubicle for chats. And the<br />
relationship will hopefully develop naturally from there.<br />
6. Expect rejection. Don’t’ get discouraged and don’t take it personally<br />
if people say no. People are busy these days, and they just might not<br />
have time to be a mentor. If the first man says no, go on to the second.<br />
7. Say “thank you.” No matter if you get a no or a yes, be sure to thank<br />
the person.<br />
Now, it might not be possible to find a mentor in just one day, but let’s at<br />
least get started on it.<br />
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