The Power of Having Mentors

Nikki NixonMarketing Technology Manager, SalesLoft@techmarketeratl

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But There’s One Thing Most People

Don’t Know….

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I Almost Did Not Graduate College!

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For Most Of My College Career…

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And Then This Happened…

My Snow Day Lasted TWO MONTHS!

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Finally, A Wakeup Call…

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A Plane Ride That Would Change My Life…

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And A Perfect Storm For The Wake Up Call I Needed!

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For A Total of Four Hours, All I Could Do Is Think!

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And Then This Happened…

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The Reality Set In…

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I Had Senioritis!

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How Did I Turn It Around?

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W.W.K.P.D?

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The Light Bulb Moment

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I Needed Mentors!

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Kyle Sends A Weekend Update Every Sunday To Team And Mentors.

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Includes Three Things:

What we accomplished for the past weekWhat we plan to accomplish for the next weekAny roadblocks that could get in our way of success

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There Is Transparency And Accountability!

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Which Was Just What The Doctor Ordered!

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How Did I Choose My Mentors?

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Already Successful

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Brutally Honest

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Trustworthy

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Comfortable With Transparency

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Make Time To Help

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Stay Positive

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Let’s Recap: Qualities Of A Mentor

Already SuccessfulBrutally HonestTrustworthyComfortable With TransparencyMake Time To HelpStay Positive

Where Did I Find Them?

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In My Network

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What If I Don’t Have a Network?

Startup Chicks LinkedInTwitterOther Meetup Groups

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LinkedIn Connect Strategies

Search for people who fit your ideal mentor profileReach out with a connect requestCustomize the request and explain who you are

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LinkedIn Connect Strategies

Follow up with a meeting requestAssuming meeting is positive, ask to keep in touch post-meeting

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Twitter Connect Strategies

Search for people who fit your ideal mentor profileStart engaging with their tweets (Comments, Favorites and Retweets)Share relevant industry articles with them.

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Twitter Connect Strategies

Once they respond positively and more frequently, either connect on LinkedIn or Direct Message on TwitterProceed with asking for meeting like with LinkedIn Strategy

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How Did I Ask Them To Be My Mentor?

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Sent An Email To Prospective Mentors

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What Did I Include?Already Considered Them An Informal MentorNeeded Help Getting Over The Finish Line to GraduationShared My Intention of Sending Regular Updates

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What Did I Include?Asked for Positive and Constructive FeedbackIncluded First Month’s Game Plan Including Senioritis as a RoadblockPromised to Pay It Forward One Day

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What Was The Response?

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2 Out of 3 People Agreed to Help

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Both Were Honored That I Had Chosen

Them For This.

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Some Of Their Responses Included:

“On Senioritis, I Don’t Want To See That Again. You Are Smart and Should Be

Able to Figure It Out.”

“Ok Nikki. It’s Time to Get to Work”

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It Was Awful Tasting Medicine…

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But I Knew That I Was On The Right Track!

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What Happened

Next?

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Early Mornings

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Long Nights In The Library

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Tough Mentor Conversations

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What Was The Outcome?

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I Graduated!

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What Can You Learn From My Brush

With Failure?

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Know What You Want To Accomplish

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Think About The Qualities You Want

In A Mentor

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Identify Those People Who Have

Those Qualities

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Establish Relationships With Potential Mentors

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Nurture That Relationship And MAKE THE ASK!

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Agree On Expectations For The Relationship

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Follow Through On Your Promises.

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Find Ways To Give Back.

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Let’s Discuss:What Has Worked

For You?

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Reach Out: nikki@techmarketeratl.comTwitter: @techmarketeratl

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nikkinixon

@techmarketeratl