I had a planned business trip from Atlanta to Montego Bay Jamaica to speak at The Destination Experience. During the meeting with the planner before this, I began asking about issues involving getting in and out of Jamaica customs: “Is there any option available that would assist us in getting through customs in a streamlined fashion”? Now, I was not anticipating any issues with Jamaica customs nor was I planning on bringing in or taking out anything that would even be an issue. But I have traveled extensively throughout Latin American and the Caribbean and sometimes customs at the airport can be a harrowing experience.
The meeting planner said he would check to see if someone from the Jamaica Tourism Board could assist us in getting through immigration and customs and confirmed this a couple of days later.
Upon our arrival, there was a uniformed woman from the Tourist Board holding a sign with my name on it right before the immigration line. She was extremely pleasant and seemed genuinely pleased to be assisting us. She took us through a very short line, helped us collect our checked luggage and brought us to a customs official who seemed to be doing nothing other than waiting for us, where we were quickly waived on to the beauty of Jamaica and waiting taxis.
This is not to say that if we didn’t have that our entrance to Jamaica would have been any problem if we didn’t have that assistance. It is an amazing place to visit and the people are incredibly warm and friendly. But there is no question that having her meet us made the process much easier.
This is what I think of when I counsel millennials about the power of mentorship. A mentor has “been there and done that” and is in a position to make whatever it is you are trying to achieve easier. Properly matched, a mentor and mentee can form a long-term relationship that benefits both parties. But how do you get that relationship started? It all starts with a simple question.
Go back to my exchange with the meeting planner. I didn’t demand they provide me with an escort through the airport and instead, merely asked if there was help available. He could have provided me some tips in getting through immigration and customs or sent me a link to a website offering advice. But the way I asked empowered him to think of a way to help – without feeling any pressure.
The truth is, most people will go out of their way to help someone but hate being pressured to do so. If you are approaching a potential mentor, you need to be someone worth mentoring and hopefully, they take an interest in you. Then when you do ask for help, ask it in a way that allows them to provide assistance at any level without expectation.
Simply be diplomatic in asking so it doesn’t indicate that you expect any specific response and gracefully accept whatever assistance they provide. Afterwards, look for a way you can provide something of value back to that mentor. It might be an offer to chase down a contact or perhaps, if you are a college student, introduce the mentor to one of your professors if he is interested.
Don’t over promise but don’t sell yourself short by thinking you have nothing to offer. Offer to take them to breakfast and pay for it. Be mentorable. It will not guarantee that you will get the mentor you seek, but it will give you a fighting chance. Even if you don’t land the mentor you want, there are more and the experience you gain will be invaluable for the next courtship.
More on being mentorable is coming in future blogs so stay tuned…
David is an international speaker, executive coach, serial entrepreneur, and shipwreck survivor. He is the bestselling author of Grounded (Little River, 2016). If you’re interested in David’s expertise in the areas of decision-making in a crisis, leadership, and metacognition, please get in touch here.