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How do you find someone successful to take them out to lunch and ask them questions?

by ecomguy
14 replies
I hear that you need to find a mentor by taking someone out to lunch and learning from them. But how do you find someone who is successful who is willing to talk to you (a stranger) and take time out of their day to meet with you?
Theres no mentors.com where you can order a mentor lol

I'm in Dallas btw if anyone knows of someone. I've never actually MET someone successful that I talked business ideas with.
#find #lunch #questions #successful
  • Profile picture of the author quadagon
    Where did you hear that from?
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      ecomguy,

      You should be aware that most "mentors" probably don't consider themselves such . . . it's just a term that is applied to someone with experience in business that is willing to help (paid or free) another learn what the "mentor" already knows.

      Also be aware that for you to really benefit from a mentor, you should find one that has been successful in the thing you want to do. So, as an example, if you want to open a restaurant, you should be looking for a mentor that has done that exact thing - opened a restaurant and was successful with it. Mentors are not good and experienced in every business. They have their expertise learned by experience.

      If you want to own a profitable online membership site, for example, you need to be talking to someone who has done that exact thing - created and grown a profitable membership site.

      If all you're looking for is a successful business person to talk about business in general, go to your local chamber of commerce or downtown business association. They will most likely have monthly meetings for association and networking. Get to know other business owners there. Offer to take someone to lunch that you connect with.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Synnuh
    Think about what you're asking for a second.

    Let's say, hypothetically, that you're successful. That being defined as $100,000+ a year, for shits n giggles sake.

    What are you going to want to do for lunch?

    Sit down with some random, probably awkward, person that wants to pick your brain -- while getting nothing in return?

    Or are you going to want to network with colleagues who can help advance your career? Maybe enjoy a lunch with your wife? You know she wouldn't be happy with you skipping an opportunity to eat lunch with her to let some random stranger pick your brain.

    It seems like a pretty unlikely way to go about becoming successful.

    I'd say start finding interviews of successful entrepreneurs. EntrepreneurOnFire.com (I want to say) is a good one.

    Model how they carry themselves, not necessarily what they do.
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  • Profile picture of the author dlane1987
    I think networking is more valuable. Try to help other people and they may spend a few minutes with you. The alternative is just hire someone.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      https://www.score.org/mentors
      SCORE offers free mentoring that connects small business owners and entrepreneurs with our volunteer business mentors.

      Let me know how it turns out, I donate to that organization.

      Personally, I suggest people go here before hiring (paying for) a mentor. Many times they'll tell you as much or more than paid mentors. Especially how to set up a business, as opposed to a money making opportunity or techniques. But if you feel you still need to hire a paid mentor, you'll come to them more armed and ready to learn. He won't have to spend time teaching (and charging you for) the basics. You'll get a lot more out of a paid mentor if you use SCORE first, in my opinion. You may even discover that's all you need.

      I've also suggested to mentor/coaching clients to go to SCORE and find out what they can offer, do or supply that SCORE can't. Because this will help them establish a stronger niche position. Most paid mentor/coaches verified they could exceed them, some could match them, but many discovered (shockingly) they still had a lot of work to do. Many mentors and coaches would lose business if more people knew about SCORE or they advertised, they'd be forced to up their game.
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      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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        Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

        Many mentors and coaches would lose business if more people knew about SCORE or they advertised, they'd be forced to up their game.
        SCORE is a great resource. If you apply for an SBA loan they will generally have someone from SCORE assigned to you to walk you through the process and even help you put your business plan together, including all the financials.

        They have offices all over the country. Check them out.

        Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author ecomguy
    Score is AWESOME. I've been twice. My only problem with Score is that the people tend to be old-school, like they were executives in the 1980s and dont know much about internet. That's been my experience. But outside of that they are great
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ecomguy View Post

      Score is AWESOME. I've been twice. My only problem with Score is that the people tend to be old-school, like they were executives in the 1980s and dont know much about internet. That's been my experience. But outside of that they are great
      Yes - they are the Service Corps of RETIRED Executives. :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author rmsyplt
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  • Profile picture of the author ceenote100
    You don't really need a mentor. I'm pretty sure there are people who are quite successful here, depending on what you define as success. Just copy what they are doing.

    One example of this is the fact that most, if not all the top earning internet marketers have their own list. So just be like them and take the necessary steps to achieve that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Originally Posted by ecomguy View Post

    I hear that you need to find a mentor by taking someone out to lunch and learning from them. But how do you find someone who is successful who is willing to talk to you (a stranger) and take time out of their day to meet with you?
    Theres no mentors.com where you can order a mentor lol

    I'm in Dallas btw if anyone knows of someone. I've never actually MET someone successful that I talked business ideas with.
    You hear alot of things these days.



    If you can find someone successful who will sit down for lunch and help you out, GREAT.

    But don't put your hopes on it. This is almost exactly like a prospect who want to "pick the brain" (for free) of a consultant looking for new clients.
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  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    I know a few serious IM studs in Dallas and worked with one of them for quite some time. Tell me a little bit about what you are looking to do and I'll let you know if it would match the folks I'm thinking of.

    By the way, I've had several people call up/email and offer me lunch over the years and I'll usually say yes if they seem to have a decent game-plan. But if they're like, "I'm an IM noob and I'd like you to teach me everything there is to know....", that's not worth my time because I don't see enough to believe that they're going to take action.

    So if you're going to try and get a meeting like that, you'd better walk in the door with a strong idea, some ways of implementing it and a website already in the works. Otherwise it will probably be a pretty short meeting.
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  • Profile picture of the author joseph7384
    I'm sure Frank Kern might be willing to let you take him to lunch, but that lunch may cost you $10,000.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by ecomguy View Post

    Theres no mentors.com where you can order a mentor lol
    Ahh, the ole' Light bulb thing
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  • Profile picture of the author pikka
    SCORE is an excellent resource! I have used them on a few occasions.

    I do not believe in paying for a mentor. It is better to network with someone who is more knowledgeable and genuinely wants to see you succeed. Start locally with an organization centered around whatever niche or area of interest you may have.

    Perhaps, volunteer your time to help this knowledgeable person with his/her business endeavor or work with them in some other capacity. This way you are learning by example. It does not have to be a discussion over lunch.

    The key is to get close to this person to watch and learn from his/her expertise.
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