If you have a mentor, you should be sure to ask the following questions at some point in your relationship:
1. What are your goals and dreams (short and long term)?
2. How can I help you achieve your goals and dreams?
3. Why did you choose to pursue these goals and dreams?
4. What books have most influenced your ideas and thoughts?
5. What ideas or thoughts inspired or motivated you to start?
6. What is the one action you have taken that has explained most of your success?
7. If you could change your life in one way, what would you change?
8. What magazines, newspapers and/or information products do you study?
9. How do you handle defeat and/or failure?
10. How do you handle obstacles and roadblocks?
11. What are your strengths?
12. What are your weaknesses?
13. Who is your hero?
14. Who is in your personal and professional network?
15. Who has had the biggest impact on your life?
16. Who are your personal and professional advisers?
17. Who do you listen to? Who do you take advice from?
18. Who are your personal and professional mentors?
19. Why are these people able to inspire and connect with you?
20. Who are your mentor’s mentors?
21. What dreams or goals inspired your mentors?
22. Who influenced your mentors?
23. Who are your mentor’s advisers?
24. What magazines, newspapers and/or information products do your mentors study?
25. Who is in your mentor’s personal and professional network?
Don’t overwhelm your mentor by asking all twenty questions at once. Instead, find appropriate times to naturally weave questions into your normal conversations. You can even send an email to ask a specific question every week or every month.
Take the time to digest the answers you receive and apply the answers to your life if appropriate. You will receive feedback related to the changes you are making in your life, be sure to follow up by sharing your successes and failures with your mentor.
Remember, the only dumb question is the question that isn’t asked. Take advantage of the experience and knowledge your mentor has to offer.
If you are not experiencing success in your life, then there is something you do not know.
Discover!! Ask your mentor!