How do I find a mentor?

I've bought Bruce A Berman's secrets to success way back when. I was totally new to internet marketing and the many promises it offered in what I considered the Golden Age. (this was early 2000s).

I absorbed his information and quickly implemented it in many business ideas I was trying back then. Some of them worked for me while others didn't do so good.

Of all the advice I took at that ripe age, there's one thing Bruce told me to do that I never did. He said to get myself a mentor.

I wasn't much of a people person and hadn't quote developed the ability to approach them in conversation. It took me a long time to get over that limitation. Nowadays I am wiser and more confident. But I still have yet to find that mentor.

I have friends in many fields and all of them always give be good advice. But none of them seem to know a thing about internet/network marketing. Many of them are traditional and urge me to stay in School, get a good job and save money. Whenever I talk to them about my ideas, they either say nothing at all or advise me not to waste my time chasing dreams.

I've been at this for years and have never seen a break through. I know it's because I've been focusing on the wrong things and not working on my own personal development. But that too is changing.

I am well aware of how my outlook and attitude can greatly determine my success. I practice this everyday and am quickly getting better at it. And with this comes the whole point I'm getting at.

I strongly feel that I am ready to seek out that mentor. I know the ancient proverb that states "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear".

So how do I go about finding this teacher? I know I probably sound like I'm trying to summon a genie out of a lamp. But that's not where I'm going with this.

What I want to know is, what are some ideas that will help increase my probability of finding someone who has the knowledge I seek and is willing to invest their time in me? I can't just put an ad on Craigslist asking for some random person to show up and teach me. (Though I have thought about it).

I put myself in their shoes and picture what I would do if someone asked me for help. I would observe them for a while to see what potential they have, how committed they could be and how likely they may be to succeed. If I found that they possess all the traits I were looking for, I would gladly take them under my wing.

On my path to personal growth, I try to focus on those traits in myself. That way, if someone ever does take notice, they will see that I am determined to succeed at this lifelong endeavor.

But apart from that, I'm attempting to learn how and where I could start my search. I figure this is as good a place as any. If anyone had ideas or experience in this, please let me know. Let's see how this plays out.