“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
The above adage, like most writing of its kind, is open to a lot of interpretations in various contexts. Part of its magic lies in its ambiguity—the sense that it possesses a universality to which readers need only devote a little concentration to unlock powerfully personal applications.
As a lifetime entrepreneur, the idea of the prepared student vis-á-vis the timely teacher resonates most strongly for me in the context of my own career. Growing up, I never had a mentor. I had people, such as my dad, whom I could go to for advice, but no one I could entrust with my deepest ambitions and desires.
This isn’t uncommon. In fact, it may even be an integral part of the process that a student must wander for a long time, making lots of mistakes and learning plenty of lessons along the way, before they’re ready for the kind of teacher who will help them make sense of the journey.
All experience, good and bad, is potentially salutary depending on one’s mindset. The pressure-cooker intensity of entrepreneurialism can likewise transform us for the better if we learn to be objective about our mistakes. What did such-and-such teach me? How will I respond next time? This kind of productive rather than despairing introspection is a must for a business owner.
However, there will come a day when you begin to see diminishing returns in terms of the quality of lessons you derive from introspection alone. You’ll require the wider, deeper perspective of someone older and more experienced; the sort of personal guru—think Yoda in Star Wars or Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid—under whose tough yet tender tutelage you’ll advance further and faster than you ever believed possible.
Business mentorship: like the pull between magnets held close together
Enter Mr. Komisar
I had founded and sold several businesses before my own mentor, Randy Komisar, walked into my life (or was it I who walked into his?). In one of those twists of fate that seems almost too good to be true, it happened when I was raising money for the company to which I would dedicate the rest of my life—the summation of everything I’d ever studied and suffered, dreamed and developed, faced and overcome.
Randy is something of a Silicon Valley legend. As a technology attorney, best-selling author, business executive, and venture capitalist, he blazed a trail where others fear to sightsee, applying a remarkable blend of acumen and instinct to bear on a host of thorny challenges.
I knew right away that I wanted to work with Randy, and it wasn’t long after we met that he revealed that he wanted to work with me. As I researched his career, I realized he had undergone an ideal blend of success and struggle; that in the future, no matter how challenging things got, he—and thus we—would be able to handle it.
This mutual attraction, like the pull between magnets held close together, is but one sign of the classic mentor-mentee relationship. To describe everything that Randy has taught me would fill a book, but a basic breakdown of what constitutes his excellence as a mentor goes something like this:
Relevant Expertise and Experience
A strong business mentor should possess substantial expertise and experience in their field. This enables them to provide actionable advice, share insights, and help navigate complex challenges. Their professional achievements and understanding of industry trends make them invaluable resources for mentees aiming to achieve similar success.
Strong Communication Skills
Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful mentorship. A great mentor listens actively, conveys ideas clearly, and tailors their advice to the mentee’s unique needs. They foster open dialogue, ensuring their guidance is both understandable and actionable.
Empathy and Understanding
Empathy allows mentors to connect with their mentees on a personal level, creating a safe space for honest discussions about challenges and aspirations. By understanding the mentee’s perspective, they can offer relevant advice while fostering trust and mutual respect.
Patience and Positivity
Mentorship is a long-term commitment that requires patience. A good mentor remains supportive even when progress is slow, offering encouragement during setbacks. Their positive outlook inspires mentees to persevere through difficulties and maintain confidence in their abilities.
Adaptability and Open-Mindedness
Business environments are constantly evolving, so mentors must be adaptable and open-minded. They should be willing to adjust their approach based on the mentee’s specific circumstances while remaining receptive to new ideas and perspectives.
Commitment to Continuous Learning
The best mentors are lifelong learners who stay up to date on industry developments and trends. Their passion for growth motivates mentees to embrace learning as an ongoing process, fostering curiosity and innovation.
Integrity and Ethical Standards
Trust is the foundation of any mentoring relationship. A mentor with strong ethical standards acts as a role model, demonstrating professionalism and integrity in all interactions. This builds credibility and ensures that the guidance provided aligns with ethical practices.
Enthusiasm for Mentorship
A genuine passion for helping others is a hallmark of an excellent mentor. They take personal interest in their mentee’s development, investing time and effort into nurturing their potential while celebrating their achievements along the way.
Respectful Attitude
A good mentor treats their mentee as an equal rather than adopting a hierarchical or directive approach. This fosters collaboration and empowers the mentee to take ownership of their decisions while feeling valued in the relationship.
Focus on Empowerment
Rather than providing all the answers, effective mentors guide mentees toward finding solutions themselves. This approach encourages critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and self-reliance—essential traits for long-term success.
In closing, it turns out everything Randy taught me did end up as a book: Straight Talk for Startups, which he coauthored with Jantoon Reigersman in 2018. Randy conferred with me about it during the composition process, and I’m proud that I’m mentioned by name in the acknowledgements. It was only as I read the transcript that it hit me just how enormous the body of knowledge and wisdom he bestowed on me over the years in countless one-on-one mentoring sessions. I heartily encourage entrepreneurs of every stripe to check it out, but especially you newbies; it contains virtually everything Randy has taught me in our long and fruitful relationship.
Though it may seem that my running into Randy when I did was sheer luck, in reality, he appeared at the end of a steep and difficult climb. It would have been pure hubris on my part to have assumed I would meet a mentor of his caliber before breaking a sweat.
Put your back into your job; learn everything you can. One day, perhaps when you’re least expecting it, the right teacher will appear. And nothing will ever be the same.
Levi King is CEO, co-founder, and Chairman of Nav. A lifelong entrepreneur and small business advocate, Levi has dedicated over 10 years of his professional career to increasing business credit transparency for small businesses.
After starting and selling several successful companies, he founded Nav both to help small business owners build their credit health and to provide them with powerful tools to make their financing dreams a reality.
Photo courtesy Getty Images for Unsplash+
