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Hire A Mentor? Yes or No

by Cartoonistnate
14 replies
I'm a cartoonist/illustrator. I recently was in touch with a internet giant who really knows his stuff when it comes to creating websites, content, etc. -- and making a profit.

I've been in a funk recently. Client work is inconsistent. I've always had to work part time to make a living. That being said, I've had some very big name clients, am a member of a prestigious cartooning community, and have numerous professional references. But still, not pulling in the clients.

This internet giant offered to mentor me. He mentioned that clients suck, and to focus on creating "smart" content.

The asking price for just a talk is $1000 for a couple of Skype calls. But, he says he has some good ideas. And he's the real deal (honestly, I've known about him awhile now, and he has a great reputation).

So, hate to say it, but that's a lot of money right now. However, I feel I could pick up on something with his knowledge.

I guess my question is, given where I'm at, would you hire a mentor for that much for just a couple of chats? Or should I try to just find a long-term mentor that's in the biz, that could become more of a friend, and not really hire anyone. One part of my thought process is I'm close to making on my own I feel -- but just inches away to figuring out that missing piece of consistency. However, I'm compelled about not even relying on clients...

Just putting this topic out there. If you've had experience with a mentor or not, I'd love to hear!

Thanks
#hire #mentor
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Always pay money to cut years off of your learning curve.

    Even if 1K is a lot to you, it is an investment to make 10K or 100K. That sounds like a good deal. Even better? You learn what works now, start doing what works now, and cut years off of your learning curve.

    Pay up to play up
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  • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
    Originally Posted by Cartoonistnate View Post

    I'm a cartoonist/illustrator. I recently was in touch with a internet giant who really knows his stuff when it comes to creating websites, content, etc. -- and making a profit.

    I've been in a funk recently. Client work is inconsistent. I've always had to work part time to make a living. That being said, I've had some very big name clients, am a member of a prestigious cartooning community, and have numerous professional references. But still, not pulling in the clients.

    This internet giant offered to mentor me. He mentioned that clients suck, and to focus on creating "smart" content.

    The asking price for just a talk is $1000 for a couple of Skype calls. But, he says he has some good ideas. And he's the real deal (honestly, I've known about him awhile now, and he has a great reputation).

    So, hate to say it, but that's a lot of money right now. However, I feel I could pick up on something with his knowledge.

    I guess my question is, given where I'm at, would you hire a mentor for that much for just a couple of chats? Or should I try to just find a long-term mentor that's in the biz, that could become more of a friend, and not really hire anyone. One part of my thought process is I'm close to making on my own I feel -- but just inches away to figuring out that missing piece of consistency. However, I'm compelled about not even relying on clients...

    Just putting this topic out there. If you've had experience with a mentor or not, I'd love to hear!

    Thanks
    $1000, it might be a good deal, or he might give you some ideas, that you could figure out for yourself?

    But it took me about 9 years online to figure out how to do flyers fast, and make good money from it, eventually.

    And l should be able to make a full wage from it by next year. But that doesn't mean that the income will fluctuate, (it will) but if looked at over a year, no problem.

    I was also thinking about turning it into a WSO, and charging at least $1,500 for it, and maybe $300-$500 more for elite level information, (closed section on my forum).

    But at the moment it is making the path and proving that it works.

    But would l disclose that kind of trade secret for 1k, now, probably not, (when l reach wage levels it might change).


    But ok, you, yes l agree clients can make you good money, but from what l have seen, but it can also dry up.

    Getting an account at Graphicriver or CreativeMarket, (requires a review of your work, for a shop there) is what l do.

    These two sell flyers, and other options, apart from possibly Envato Elements, are crap and don't sell flyers.

    And they take care of the traffic, (which is a big hurdle, removed).


    Maybe this guy knows something l don't, and he can help you, (l have come up with two great money making ideas in this area, but not without critical thinking and hitting a brick wall first).

    Personally l wouldn't pay $1000, since it is unlikely that he doesn't have any ideas that l couldn't find myself, (but l came up with two, so there is probably more).

    Anyway your choice, but l wouldn't rush into it.

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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    inches away but you can still go in the wrong direction ..even if it doesn't bring 10 or 100k. do you think it could make you 2,000 in the next year ..listening to what this teacher/consultant mentor has to say ..

    It is an investment in you and your business.. the processes of doing this this time will pay of next time you look for someone else for advide.. and i think for 90 percent of people in the Usa and 99.5 percent of the population on the planet 1000 is always a lot of money right now .

    it is your education and should pay of if you know what you are looking to learn
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  • Profile picture of the author Cartoonistnate
    Thank you all for the feedback! $1,000 is a lot of money right now, but I see it as an investment. I'm planning on proceeding forward. You never know until you try, and this seems well worth the cost.
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by Cartoonistnate View Post

      Thank you all for the feedback! $1,000 is a lot of money right now, but I see it as an investment. I'm planning on proceeding forward. You never know until you try, and this seems well worth the cost.
      sorry to come out with the there is no try .. but if you are going to invest the 1,000 and it is a qualified business expense ..you should have a good focus on what you want from it ..and yes over time the returns can be well worth it but ..again if it drags you those couple inches you need and save you 6 month to many years of figuring out ..
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  • Profile picture of the author st0nec0ld
    For me, hiring a mentor is not necessary. On the other hand, if you can invest on it, why not? Besides it will have a good impact on your career.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Aguilar
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    If that person has what you want and is willing to help you get what you want, go for it. An investment in yourself is definitely the best investment you can make.
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  • Profile picture of the author Qamar
    $1000 is actually a decent price to learn sruffs that can help your business. If u have the money go and get mentor. U will cut many learning curves and achieve results quicker.
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  • Profile picture of the author IPLease
    If you say that he is the real deal and you have known him for a while,then why not go for it? Surely he will teach you something that you do not know. Yes that may be a lot of money, but only you will be able to say if it is worth it or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bayo
    On another note it's interesting to see people state that they'd "never" pay [fill in the blank with the amount of money here] but they expect to have customers and clients who pay them that exact same amount of money for their services or products.

    It doesn't work that way.

    If you believe your value or the value of your products or services are only peanuts ($7, $9.99, $19.95 etc.) you'll experience a serious mental block reaching your financial goals or achieving financial freedom because of your mindset, thoughts about money and the action you take as a result.

    Bayo
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  • Profile picture of the author heavysm
    Honestly, just reverse engineer what he does.

    I have been through my share of coaches, programs, etc and i no longer care to sign up with someone who will have different expectations to me, influence me to work at a rate I don't like - it's just not a good situation.

    From what i have seen very few low end coaches ($500 to $10,000 - that's literally the low end) are worth their weight. They must produce results in their clients to prove that they're worth anything, and much of the time that doesn't even happen.

    I'm not blaming the coaches here, but if you truly have the will to make it happen, just follow, model and make better.

    Coaches will literally do what the title says: coach.

    They do not hand hold you through jack sh!t.

    Think of coaches in professional sports; they're literally yelling at the players to push harder. Hand holding isn't even a thing.

    So i think we need to re evaluate our expectations of reality and what we want out of ourselves / others before we move forward.

    If anything, go on a super long walk and meditate on what you really want out of life.

    If you really can't think of what you want now, maybe that's really what you need.

    Knowing who you are equates to knowing what you want out of this life.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bayo
      Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

      They must produce results in their clients to prove that they're worth anything, and much of the time that doesn't even happen.
      This is one of the fundamental issues that cause a lot of people to fail whether they're using coaches or mentors.

      It is also a reason why new coaches and mentors inadvertently set themselves up for failure and their reputation takes a hit when it could have been avoided.

      A Mentor's Responsibility

      A mentor is not responsible for producing results in their clients.

      I've been a mentor for more than 15 years in both the Fortune 500 world and the small to medium sized business world as well. All based on results I have bee able to achieve (and not on some made up certification issues by an organization setup by a few savvy individuals).

      As a mentor my role is to provide the means, whether we refer to it as an "action plan, strategy, blueprint" or something else that works.

      It would be ridiculous to guarantee a person I'm mentoring on leadership for instance, that they will get results. The same applies if I guaranteed to get results for the introverted coaches, consultants and service professionals I mentor.

      I can't and don't do that because even though I know without a doubt that what I give them and guide them on works, I am not responsible for any lack of follow-through on their part.

      Caveat

      If any coach or mentor says they guarantee results they had better be offering a completely "Done-for-You" service where they will do all the work following a step-by-step plan that's proven to work.

      Anything else than that and they're setting themselves and their mentee/coachee or client up for failure and disappointment because they cannot guarantee that the person being mentored (or coached) will actually go ahead and do the work required.
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