Mentors are such an integral part of our journeys as Creatives. There is no moving forwards without the knowledge how things were done before, what worked and what didn’t. At this point you’ve probably come to realise just how invaluable the range in wisdom that mentors have can be.

They can truly make or break the success of our trajectories so it's super important to have the right people by our side at all levels.

Whether you’re starting out, pretty established in your creative career or you could do with guidance here and there the right mentor will definitely go a long way.

Find someone whose hindsight can become foresight.

1. Determine the Grey Areas In Your Career

Assess the current state of your career and highlight the areas you could use someone's help with.

Ask yourself the right questions in order to find the right mentor for you.

• Where do you need the most support?
• What are you struggling most with in your career right now?
• What skills do you need to develop to access the career opportunities you find attractive?

These questions will help prompt you into considering how a mentor would fit into your bigger picture. This way you’re able to bring them something concrete to work from rather than expect them to both ask the big questions for you and find answers.

Remember your mentor doesn't always have to be miles ahead of you.

Do your part.

1. Paint A Picture of Your Ideal Mentor

You don’t know what you’re looking for until you sit down with yourself and decide on it. Obtaining a mentor is the kind of decision you want to be very particular and well-informed about.

What kind of guidance style do you really enjoy and work well under, what type would you run miles to get away from?

This way you can make the experience of being advised an enjoyable one for the both of you. It also means knowing what gaps a mentor can fill and ensuring that their abilities complement your own or are further developed than your own.

1. Get Straight To The Point With Your Ask

Mentorship is a two way street - both parties need to feel energised by the relationship.

Mentoring a person is a significant task. If there’s any way you can make your mentor's job easier or more convenient - do it.

Clear and concise communication largely plays into creating that mentor-mentee ease.

1. The Worst Thing They Can Say Is No

There’s a reason why so many expressions exist to signify that closed mouths don’t get fed. More often than not, the only thing standing between a person and their dream, an opportunity that reads as if it was tailor-made for them or even the perfect mentor is their fear of rejection.

You miss all the shots you don't take.

Just by opening your mouth and asking you raise the chances of getting to where you want to go rather than twiddling your thumbs hoping a stroke of luck comes your way.

Don’t be the reason why what is for you misses you altogether.

1. Continue to Follow-up and Say Thank You

https://www.notion.so

Kindly follow-ups are a great way to put you at the forefront of a potential mentor's mind especially when everyone runs on different schedules, and sometimes replying to your message might slip through the cracks.

It’s an indirect way of giving them what might be a much needed nudge.

And of course, don’t forget a small “thank you” to soften whatever request you may be putting in and demonstrate that you don’t take efforts to support you for granted.

Good manners will take you far!

For more hard-hitting tips and posts tailored specifically for our creative geniuses be sure to head over to the New Comma page on Instagram @new.comma 🫶🏿🫶🏾🫶🏽

If you’ve come this far but have yet to sign up to New Comma what are you doing?!🤯

Get into it and sign up over on the New Comma site to become the latest newcomer at New Comma.

(See what we did there!😉😉😉)