What You Need For

10 Online Mentoring Platforms To Find a Mentor What You Need For September 2, 2024 byCharlotte Whatever new skills or activity you are learning, having the right mentor can make all the difference. Whether you’re building a business from scratch or starting a new hobby, finding someone who’s been there before can accelerate your growth and confidence. Here’s a guide to 10 online mentoring platforms—5 for professional and business development, and 5 for finding mentors in hobbies. Factors To Consider When Choosing Online Mentoring Platforms Before diving into the list, it’s important to recognize the key factors that make mentoring platforms effective: Comprehensive Profiles: Good profiles help both mentees and mentors set expectations and make sure the connection is right from the start. You should be able to learn about your mentor’s background, skills, and communication style. Strong Matching System: A platform’s ability to match you with a mentor who aligns with your goals and values is crucial. The best platforms offer several matching systems, including self-directed, administrative, and automated matching, which MentorCruise explains well in this blog post. Long-Term Relationships: Mentoring doesn’t stop after the match. Mentoring Platforms that provide tools for continued communication, progress tracking, and feedback loops create a structure for ongoing growth. Let’s get started. Mentoring Platforms for Business & Professional 1. GrowthMentor GrowthMentor connects you with vetted mentors who specialize in growth marketing, product  development, and startup strategy. With its focus on real-world experience, you’re bound to find a mentor who understands your specific challenges. The platform’s matching system is a standout, and it also includes post-match collaboration tools, like chat and video calls. I have used the platform both as a mentor and a mentee, and I’ve always had a seamless experience. Their vetting system is strong, as they perform 1:1 interviews to select mentors who fit the platform’s mission and values. I’ve experienced it first-hand before being accepted as a mentor on the platform. Best For: Startups, entrepreneurs, and growth hackers Key Feature: Mentor recommendations based on detailed profiles and real-world expertise Pricing: Light: $49/month ($103 paid quarterly) / $37/month ($309 paid yearly)–save 33% 2. Clarity.fm Clarity.fm is all about connecting you with experts who can provide direct, actionable advice. With a pay-per-minute model, it’s perfect if you need quick, targeted guidance over the phone. You can search for mentors based on industry or specific challenges. The cost can pile up pretty quickly if you get scattered, so, make sure you get advice tailored to your needs. Best For: Entrepreneurs, professionals seeking niche advice Key Feature: On-demand calls with experts for real-time advice Pricing: Premium pricing model with an average price per minute rate of above $5 3. Mentorcam Mentorcam offers access to high-profile entrepreneurs, leaders, and influencers who are available to mentor via video calls. It’s a great place to connect with top professionals who are usually out of reach, providing insights into leadership, business growth, and personal development. Best For: Aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals seeking inspiration from top names Key Feature: Video messaging with prominent figures for personal advice Pricing: $350-$850/month depending on the plan 4. Oneday This platform is designed for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses quickly and sustainably. Oneday pairs you with mentors who’ve been through the startup process and can guide you through common pitfalls, while also offering advice on growth and scalability. Best For: Startup founders, early-stage entrepreneurs Key Feature: Focused on long-term mentorship and growth strategies Pricing: £‎399/month for 18 months 5. MentorCruise MentorCruise helps you find long-term mentors in tech, design, or business. The platform emphasizes fostering a supportive mentor-mentee relationship that extends beyond a few meetings. Whether you’re looking for help in coding or career advice in design, this platform offers affordable access to industry professionals. Best For: Tech professionals, career changers, startup enthusiasts Key Feature: Ongoing mentorship programs with a focus on long-term goals Pricing: 7-day free trial; one-off session from $89; Mentors charge from $60 to $550/month For a comprehensive list of professional mentoring platforms, I recommend this great post by GrowthMentor. Mentoring Platforms for Hobbies Finding a mentor for a hobby can be a bit more challenging online than in professional settings, but there are still plenty of opportunities out there. Let’s explore five platforms that will help you connect with potential hobby mentors. 1. Meetup While Meetup isn’t strictly a mentoring platform, it offers endless opportunities to find mentors within local groups and events. From dance and photography to painting and personal development, Meetup connects people with similar interests. You might not immediately find a mentor, but by attending events and building relationships, you can find people who are willing to guide you. I dive into how to meet mentors where they are in my 101 guide to finding a mentor. Best For: Anyone looking for local hobby communities Key Feature: Easy access to hobby-specific events and groups Pricing: Free for attendees Pro Tip: Just recently, while revisiting Meetup for this article, I stumbled upon an event near me that aimed at helping shy people overcome their shyness in dancing. Unfortunately, the event had already passed, but I decided to reach out directly to the organizer to see if there might be future opportunities to meet or attend a similar event. Never forget—Fortune favors the bold! 2. Superprof Superprof focuses on connecting learners with teachers across a wide range of subjects, including hobbies. Though it’s primarily for educational purposes, teachers often become mentors as they continue guiding you beyond initial lessons. Whether you’re looking to learn an instrument, improve your photography, or master a new language, Superprof is a solid option. Best For: Learners looking for structured guidance in hobbies like music, art, or sports Key Feature: Wide range of subjects  Pricing: 39€/month with often options for a discount (I paid 29€ for my first month, which gave me plenty of time to find the teachers I was looking for) 3. Tonebase This is a niche platform for music enthusiasts looking to improve their instrumental skills. Tonebase offers

Finding Mentors 101: Connect with People Who Inspire You What You Need For August 30, 2024 byCharlotte Ever thought mentorship was just for climbing the career ladder? Think again. Just as we seek mentorship in our professional lives, it’s equally essential to find mentors when exploring new hobbies, traveling to new destinations, or working on any kind of personal development. I’ve had over a dozen mentors supporting me, and I always make it a point to seek out more experienced individuals who can offer me new perspectives. That’s why I’m always surprised when people tell me they’ve never had a mentor. According to an article by Harvard Business Review, 76% of people sees high value in mentors, while only 37% of them have a mentor. seeMore often than not, they misunderstand what mentorship really is. Mentorship is not a one-way relationship where an all-knowing teacher imparts wisdom to a clueless student. It’s an exchange—a relationship where both the mentor and mentee contribute, learn, and grow. As mentees, our job is to push ourselves, learn, and bring value to the table, while the mentor provides guidance, encouragement, and support. In this blog, I will make sure I provide examples of finding mentors for both professional and personal pursuits. Let’s dive in. Find Mentors Where Mentors Are Finding mentors may seem like a daunting task, but the key is surprisingly simple: go to the places where potential mentors are likely to be. Once you’re in the right environment, opportunities to connect with the right people will start to arise. Work Life In your career, finding a mentor is often about showing up in the right spaces. If you’re looking for a civil engineering mentor, for example, attend industry conferences, participate in workshops, or join professional associations where these engineers are likely to gather. You’re far more likely to meet a potential mentor in environments that foster learning, networking, and professional growth. Nowadays, there are also a plethora of mentorship platforms where you can connect with mentors from various industries. I’ve compiled a list here. It’s about being proactive. Simply showing up and engaging with others in your field can open doors to valuable relationships. Reach out to those you admire, ask questions, and be open to learning from their experiences. Personal Life Similarly, finding mentors for personal interests like photography, travel, or fitness follows the same principle: immerse yourself in the community. Want to learn pottery? Take a class, visit exhibitions, or attend local craft fairs. Interested in travel? Join online travel groups, go to meetups, or attend travel talks. The more you engage with people who are passionate about the same things you are, the more likely you are to find someone who inspires you and can guide you in your personal pursuits. Remember, finding good mentors isn’t about reinventing the wheel—it’s about putting yourself in the right places and being open to the connections that arise. It really is that simple and doesn’t need to be more formal than that. Look Around You! The truth is, we are often surrounded by potential mentors. The key is recognizing them and approaching them with a genuine desire to learn, rather than focusing on short-term gains like salary increases or promotions. People are more likely to mentor those who show that they are serious about learning and personal growth, without expecting immediate rewards. Work Life At work, you may already be surrounded by potential mentors. Senior colleagues, managers, or even peers who have more experience than you can serve as mentors. If you show that you’re willing to learn, work hard, and prioritize growth over immediate success, you’ll often trigger their natural instinct to help guide you. Most people enjoy mentoring someone who is genuinely curious and driven, especially when that person demonstrates dedication. Personal Life If you’re attending a class or workshop and see someone whose skills or experiences you admire, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation. People who are passionate about what they do often enjoy sharing their knowledge with others who are eager to learn. By showing your enthusiasm and willingness to learn, you may inspire them to take you under their wing. That’s exactly what happened when I began my dance journey. I struck up a conversation with who became my first mentor and, to this day, a good friend. I told her I’d always wanted to learn Afro dance, but it was a big challenge since I’d never danced before. Months later, she admitted she didn’t believe me at first because so many people just wanted to learn a quick routine for TikTok and never returned. But as I kept showing up and showing my eagerness to learn, she eventually decided to mentor me over the next year. Mentors Can Be Temporary A common misconception is that mentorship has to be a long-term commitment, but that’s not always the case. This blog post by The Muse provides good insights about what a mentor is and isn’t. Sometimes, a mentor can guide you in just a single meeting, a brief conversation, or over a cup of coffee. The relationship doesn’t have to be formal or long-term for it to have a lasting impact. Work Life In the professional world, mentors don’t always stick around for the entirety of your career. Perhaps you meet someone at a conference who offers you a piece of advice that changes how you approach your work. Or maybe a senior colleague helps guide you through a challenging project, and once it’s done, the mentorship naturally ends. That’s perfectly okay. As a multi-entrepreneur, I can’t even count how many people have influenced my strategies and decision-making, even after only brief interactions. It’s crucial to keep an open mind and stay alert to unexpected advice. It helps you make the most of any short-term mentors who cross your path. Mentorship can be short-lived and still have a profound impact. Personal Life In our personal life, temporary mentors are common as well. You might meet