As you boost yourself up the ladder of success, find a mentor. If you are working for an organization, find one within the company, preferably one in upper management. If your company has a mentoring program, that’s great. Be sure to sign up for it. But even if they don’t, seek one out. There are many things to look for in a mentor. A few of the most important ones are someone who has a positive attitude and outlook, and someone you trust, respect and admire. You want to find a good listener and someone you are willing to listen to, even when you might not want to! Find someone who has accomplished goals similar to yours and has values similar to yours. Finally, look for someone who is open to providing time and energy to help you achieve your goals. Having an advocate can really help boost your career. She or he will discuss your goals and timelines with you. You know, it’s easier to reach our goals when we share them with someone instead of just keeping them in that fuzzy, “someday”, part of our brain.

The last assignment of the goal setting class, required you to share your goals with someone. A mentor is the best person with whom to share your goals. A good mentor will help you track your progress. You will meet with her periodically to discuss what you’ve been doing to reach your goals, what goals have been met and what timelines may need to be modified. A good mentor will help you maintain visibility. She can let you know what’s going on in the company and make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.