0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

238 ● 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
Instead of yelling at me for disrupting the class, he dug through the piles
of papers on his desk. He handed me an application for a national student
journalism contest.
“Fill this out,” he barked. So I did.
A few months later, on the plane to Buffalo, New York, to accept my
first award for writing, I realized that I had a mentor. For years, he critiqued
my work and pushed me to write better stories and work harder. He also
praised my accomplishments and was my biggest fan. We kept in touch
long after I graduated and I miss him.
Over the years, I’ve sought out a variety of mentors to help me overcome
all sorts of professional and personal obstacles. I seek out people whose accomplishments
inspire me—people who lead lives of purpose and fulfillment.
Sometimes, the best mentor works in a different profession than yours.
One of my current mentors, an extremely respected and successful businessperson,
is involved in national politics and education.
Once, when I was embroiled in an internal battle around our biggest
corporate consulting project, I called him. He listened to my story and
asked pointed questions about the key players involved. Then, he gave me
some great ideas to help calm the waters and resolve the crisis. His advice
was critical to the eventual success of the project.
You’re probably reading this and thinking, well, perhaps it’s easy for
Jane Applegate to find mentors—but what about me? Everyone can find
a mentor. There are mentors in every corner of America. No matter how
small your town is, there is someone there whom you admire, someone
who is living the kind of life you would like to lead.
Writing a simple note, sending an e-mail, or making a telephone call is
the first step. Ask a mutual friend or acquaintance to make an introduction.
Explain that you admire what they have accomplished and ask if you can
meet with them for a few minutes. Don’t frighten them by saying, “I want
you to be my mentor.”
Busy, successful people rarely have time for a long lunch, but they might
have time for a chat on the phone or a cup of coffee near their office. If the
person you choose turns you down, try someone else. It’s easy to find a
mentor through the SCORE program. Retired executives volunteer their
time to help business owners like you. Visit www.score.org.
Here’s another great idea: check out a mentoring program run by
Mercy Corps, a nonprofit agency. MicroMentor.org provides free online
matches aimed at connecting business owners with volunteer mentors. The