Mentorship can play a crucial role in pushing your career forward. Mentorship is the intentional support that an individual provides to someone that aligns with the help that they need. The result of this interaction is usually the exchange of support that leads to a progressive realization of goals and dreams. While the process of becoming a mentor may seem complicated, it can be quite simple. Professionals in many different fields have a desire to share their knowledge with others. The key is knowing where to look to get involved in these beneficial mentorship relationships.
How Can I Start Sharing My Knowledge With Others?
For me, mentorship started gradually. As people began to see me succeed in different areas, such as entrepreneurship and authorship, they began asking me to guide them more frequently. As you start to find your success, others will take note.
Another great way to get involved with mentorship is to reach out to different programs or groups that specialize in strengthening mentorship. I created my organization, The Fig Factor Foundation, with this in mind. When I first arrived in the United States at the age of 14, I was greatly influenced by the mentorship I received. I created The Fig Factor Foundation with the hope of having a similar impact on the lives of other young women. The organization was created for Latinas from 12 to 25 years of age to have the mentorship they need to succeed. Foundations such as mine help others succeed in the roles of mentorship. They provide an excellent place to start if you are looking to build your own community of support.
Is Becoming a Mentor Right for Me?
Anytime is the right time to pursue mentorship, even if you have achieved amazing levels of success, we all need a mentor in certain areas. When I first sought out mentorship, I never imagined the ways that it would impact my life. While I now find myself in the role of mentor more often than mentee, I continue to learn daily from my mentorship positions.
If you have experience in a field that you find yourself wanting to share with others, becoming a mentor is the perfect solution. While you might find yourself wondering what you have to offer to a mentee, others often see your success and qualifications before you. If you are questioning your qualifications for mentorship, try utilizing feedback from your community contacts, and allow them to tell you the strengths they see in you. While self-doubt can creep in, you should never say no to becoming a mentor when asked. If someone asks you to become their mentor, they likely see the learning potential you might not see yourself.
Still not sure you have what it takes to become a mentor, ask yourself the following:
- Do I have a specialized skill or knowledge base that others might find helpful?
- Do I have a passion for helping others succeed?
- What have I learned that would benefit others?
Hopefully, these questions help you see that anyone can become a mentor as long as they have the passion it takes to share their knowledge!
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz is the CEO of JJR Marketing (www.jjrmarketing.com) and Fig Factor Media LLC international book publishing company (www.figfactormedia.com), founder of The Fig Factor Foundation (www.thefigfactor.org), creator of Today’s Inspired Latina book series and international movement (http://www.todayslatina.com), author of thirteen books (www.jackiecamacho.com), international speaker, and pilot. Jacqueline speaks to hundreds of audiences about marketing, servant leadership, finding your passion, and achieving success in business. She has addressed the United States Army, BP International, United Airlines, Allstate, and Farmers Insurance among other corporations to share her inspiration.
If you or an organization you know needs as speaker, please get in touch with us at https://www.jackiecamacho.com/contact.