The Value of Mentoring
Last Update: May 31, 2012
I've been at this IM thing off and on for several years. I started out on my own as I am sure many of you did. Buying e-book after e-book, spending lots of time, energy, and money without much to show for it...I was discouraged.
I took a year or two off and recently came back to WA with the intention of making it happen.
Not to take anything away from him, but much is the same advice I see here in WA but actually 'seeing' it on a site that I am working on and seeing the effects makes it sink home better for me. I'm the type of person that learns better by DO-ing rather than reading about HOW to do something. So it goes without saying that this arrangement has been an AWESOME experience! Our current site is almost 'done' and we are looking forward to the next project.
If you have the chance to partner with an experienced marketer, I'd say do it! It has been an invaluable learning opportunity for me. Do NOT think you are going to ride their coattails though, there are still no shortcuts. I have written every post, page, and article for the site. But in doing so, I have learned where I could benefit from outsourcing on future projects.
I am now trying to decide my next step. Go on and do a site on my own using what I've learned, partnering again on a new site using a different business model, or trying to do a combo of both!
I took a year or two off and recently came back to WA with the intention of making it happen.
Step in the right direction
Instead of doing the same thing as before, I asked more questions and listened to people that are actually DOING it, not just selling e-books about it. I started to understand more and have been able to help out people new to WA and marketing in general from time to time, but I still couldn't QUITE make it all come together.Learn from those that came before
About six months ago or so, I got in contact with a 'mentor' of sorts. Basically, I partnered with him to build a site and make it work. I would do the work and he would advise and review my progress and we would split the income between us. It is therefore in both our interests to make the site work and work well! He has also been available for any questions I've had about anything.Not to take anything away from him, but much is the same advice I see here in WA but actually 'seeing' it on a site that I am working on and seeing the effects makes it sink home better for me. I'm the type of person that learns better by DO-ing rather than reading about HOW to do something. So it goes without saying that this arrangement has been an AWESOME experience! Our current site is almost 'done' and we are looking forward to the next project.
If you have the chance to partner with an experienced marketer, I'd say do it! It has been an invaluable learning opportunity for me. Do NOT think you are going to ride their coattails though, there are still no shortcuts. I have written every post, page, and article for the site. But in doing so, I have learned where I could benefit from outsourcing on future projects.
I am now trying to decide my next step. Go on and do a site on my own using what I've learned, partnering again on a new site using a different business model, or trying to do a combo of both!
Join the Discussion
veronica.l
Premium
Great job, "learning by doing" is a great way to learn, I would say that is when you REALLY learn you can read all the books but if you don`t implement...
Getting a mentor is a good idea, but like you said all the info is right here at WA, The difficult thing when you start out though can be that you don`t even know what questions to ask. Have someone that has done IM for a little bit longer, take a look at your site and review it is a great way to improve it.
Getting a mentor is a good idea, but like you said all the info is right here at WA, The difficult thing when you start out though can be that you don`t even know what questions to ask. Have someone that has done IM for a little bit longer, take a look at your site and review it is a great way to improve it.
jchilders
Premium
I got hooked up with mine through the Jobs listings here at WA. You might put up an ad looking for a mentor and see what offers you get if you don't see any out there already. You might not get any takers, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Just be prepared to WORK..you have to be serious about wanting to succeed.
kyle
Premium Plus
Great to hear you have formed this partnership. Partnerships can be of great benefit and it sounds as though in your situation it is holding you accountable to take action and get the tasks at hand completed efficiently. This subtle pressure can lead to a lot more "doing" which is ulitimately the key component of learning and success!
jchilders
Premium
Definitely! If my lack of action only affects me, it's not that big of a deal and easier for me to keep putting it off. Since my lack of action would affect someone ELSE's income, it lights the proverbial fire under me to keep moving forward. Others might be able to self-motivate better than I, but this type of accountability has helped me tremendously.
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