Need Advice? Get a Mentor! Web sites and tips to help you find a mentor and get the most out of the relationship

(YoungBiz.com) - Every entrepreneur needs someone toturn to for advice, no matter how many rungs up the ladder ofsuccess you've climbed. Owning your own business, after all, isa journey, not a destination. And that's a fact that hasn'tslipped past 'trep K-K Gregory.

The 19-year-old's journey began nearly a decade ago, whenshe invented Wristies, a fleece warmer worn between a coat andgloves to keep the snow out, and opened her own business. Sincethen, Gregory has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and, morerecently, the Ananda Lewis Show. Wristies are now sold in storesaround the country and on the Web at www.wristies.com.

Along the way, as her business grew from the samples she madefor her Girl Scout troop to the 2,700 pairs she sold in just sixminutes on the QVC channel, Gregory has needed plenty of businessadvice. That's when she turned to her own in-house advisor andmentor: her mom, Sue.

K-K says her mentoring relationship has been key to her success."If you ever have an idea, find somebody to work with whobelieves in it," she says. "It's really hard to do itby yourself, especially for young people, because it's not easyto get people to take you seriously. When you've found thatperson, go for it!"

If you don't know someone who can act as a mentor to you,how do you go about finding one? Relax. It's not as hard as itmight seem. Here are a few resources to get you started.

Go OnlineFirst
There are many business sites to turn to on the Web for help infinding a mentor, but if you want personalized service free ofcharge, check these out first:

• SCORE: While the Small Business Administration may be thegranddaddy of all business sites, it's SCORE (Service Corps ofRetired Executives), one of the SBA's resource partners, thatoffers 'treps help from those who've actually been there.SCORE boasts more than 11,500 volunteers, 900 of whom are e-mailcounselors. The service is free and confidential, and users canchoose the mentor they want to talk to after viewing a list thatincludes the mentors' names and brief bios. The site alsooffers how-to articles and success stories, and 'treps canlocate a SCORE chapter in their area for one-on-one meetings.
• Entrebiz: A Web site that bills itself as the"online entrepreneurial resource center," Entrebiz offerschat rooms, message boards and business advice in more than 50categories. The site offers speeches in audio versions ordownloadable forms, software, books and hundreds of business forms.'Treps can also post profiles and descriptions of theirservices to potential buyers or auction their products.
• EntreWorld.org: A comprehensive Web site, whether'treps are just starting out or have been in business foryears. Entreworld offers live daily webcasts with well-knownentrepreneurs; links to the Kauffman Business EKG, where 'trepscan assess their company's financial vital signs; a free e-mailnewsletter; tutorials; quizzes; as well as areas for starting abusiness, growing a business, supporting entrepreneurship andsocial entrepreneurship.
• InternationalSmall Business Consortium: This organization offersScuttlebutt, a moderated business discussion group, as well as alist of other helpful business sites.

Working With YourMentor
Making the connection is just the first step. Once you hook up witha mentor, whether online or in person, there are several ways toget the most out of the relationship:

• Be dependable. Keep in mind that your mentor is doingyou a favor. Even if the mentor is retired (as are all of thevolunteers at SCORE), his or her time is valuable, and mentoring isan added responsibility he or she has agreed to take on. Whetheryou meet with your mentor online or in person, always be ontime.
• Be inquisitive. Your relationship with your mentor is atwo-way street. Spend a few minutes before your meetings to jotdown some thoughts about what you hope to gain from therelationship as well as any questions you have.
• Be open. You may not always like what you hear from yourmentor, but learning to accept criticism and being open to handlingaspects of business in a different manner are part of thejourney.
• Be willing to have more than one mentor. Mentors havespecialties and may not be able to help you with every challengeyou face in your business, but they may be able to suggest otherswho can offer advice with a particular problem.

Along the way, keep in mind that asking for advice is never asign of weakness. On the contrary, it's the 'treps whoreach out for advice who have the greatest advantage inbusiness.