Self-Interested Reasons for Mentoring Others

I'm a very big believer in mentoring others. At a base level, I feel an obligation to because I've received so much help. However, there are many other reasons. Below are ones that Sheena and I brainstormed:

1. Build a Better Brand. Just as corporations that get involved in their communities build a positive image of themselves, so to do individuals who go out of their way to help others.

2. Understand How to Become a Better Mentee. By becoming a mentor, you gain a better understanding of the benefits of mentoring from the mentor's perspective. As such, you will probably be able to build closer relationships with your mentors.

3. Network with Other Mentors. If you become part of a mentor program, you will be able to network with other mentors. Often times, these are the exact kind of people you want to meet as they have very strong characters and are often trailblazers in their careers.

4. Build Relationships with Future Change-Agents. I know how difficult going after your dreams can be. At first, it is often hard to find people who understand and believe in what you want to do. As such, you can build a very close relationship with someone by believing in them and supporting them in anyway you can until they build up momentum. These relationships can flower into friendships, partnerships, internships, and more.

5. Learn the Needs of Your Potential and Existing Clients. If you're an author, speaker, or consultant you create the potential for new business, and you also get a much deeper understanding of the people you're serving.

6. Feel Good. Making a difference feels good. By mentoring, you not only make a difference in one person, but you also do so at a societal level. I think that something that is important for societies is that the people in them share their lessons learned with each other. What better way to encourage this than by sharing your lessons learned.