Ask for a smaller kind of mentorship

Career · Little Light original

Someone you admire agrees to coffee, and the temptation is to ask a question too large to answer: Will you be my mentor? You hope the title will create a relationship, but the person still does not know what kind of help would be useful. Begin with a real decision. Explain the context briefly and ask how they would think about one difficult part. Try their advice where it fits, then return later with what happened and what you learned. A series of thoughtful exchanges can become mentorship without either person having to promise an undefined role at the first meeting. Guidance works best when it has something specific to meet. The more clearly you understand your own question, the easier it is for someone else to offer experience rather than general encouragement. You do not need to secure a lifelong guide today. You need one honest conversation, followed by enough attention to make good use of it.

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