• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Mentors are well-intentioned volunteer guides who aren’t usually adept at asking for favors on behalf of strangers. They need guidance themselves.

Make Sure the Mentor Understands His Mission

You’re not looking for career planning, constructive criticism, or psychotherapy. You’re looking for instant interviews.

This is a very specific relationship. Its effectiveness is measured by the speed, quality, and quantity of interviews.

Give the Mentor as Much to Work With as Possible

• Your rest-you-may (Do 5)

• Your background highlights (Do 84)

• Your business cards (Do 1)

• An icon letter for him to sign (Do 93). Send it for him whenever and wherever you can.

Go Out of Your Way to Do Nice Things for the Mentor

This isn’t always easy.

Some mentors refuse to take anything in return. Others resent being asked.

But you can bring him a surprise lunch and eat with him informally. You can wash his car. You can buy him a thoughtful little gift with a card expressing your appreciation.

Recognize How Fortunate You Are to Be a Protege

Somewhere along the line, every successful person figures this out. Many more would be mentors themselves, but nobody asks.

So they join mentoring groups (google mentors and 5,740,000 links appear). Or they find some unworthy underling in their family or office.

It’s just as much about their needs as it is about the protege’s.

I really hope you take charge of this mentoring project. Follow these guidelines.

. . . And make the maven you select an interview mentor!

Do 96: Doing Informational Interviews Instantly

How’d you like to go from a cold call to one that’s instantly incendiary?

Can it be? Enter instant informational interviewing.

Let’s S-S-S-I-Z-Z-L-E!

Understand Why Informational Interviews Are So Effective

The informational interview doesn’t meet with rejection because you’re not looking for a job.

You’re just gathering information. So no decision has to be made.

That means no initial doorslam.

The power to increase instant interviews is found in the role reversal with an offeror.

Powerful power—’cause you’re doing the viewing!

No need to try switching seats with the offeror—just . . .

Question Your Way to Success

You ask from your first hello. In fact, right after the Magic Four Hello (Do 1).

Here are some ways:

I saw you speak at the Electronic Paperclip Association last month and learned a lot. I just had to ask you a few questions. Do you have a minute?

You’ve identified yourself as a fan, complimented him, and are being time conscious. It’s easier to say, “Yes” than “No,” since “No” means another interruption.

I was in the area wanting to get some brief information from local success stories for a book I’m working on. How about us talking now?

Here, time consciousness, a compliment, and a reason. Now he’s thinking about free publicity and self-promotion.

I’m fascinated with your business and just wanted to ask you about how you got started. It should only take a short time. Are you available for a moment now?

Now a compliment, a reason, and time consciousness.

No question about it—

You’re instantly in!

Memorize These Questions

Just glance at them before you go under as you’re relaxing (Do 42).

After a week or so, they’ll be stored and ready for instant recall as needed.

There are three separate areas of inquiry:

Business Profile

How long have you been in business?

What are your products?

Who buys from you?

What is your share of the market?

What are your annual sales?

How many employees do you have?

What are your future plans?

What is your management philosophy? (This answer gives you more instant insight than the first seven combined!)

Hiring Profile

How are your hiring decisions made?

Who makes them?

Is a position open now? (Here we go!)

How long has it been open?

Why hasn’t it been filled?

What kind of person are you looking for?

If someone is qualified, how