Redefining Mentorship

How many times have you been told that one of the fastest ways to success is finding the right mentors? For years, that single piece of advice overwhelmed me.

As someone with big goals living in a small town, the idea of finding a mentor who could meet with me regularly felt impossible. I imagined mentorship as this formal relationship — coffee meetings, scheduled phone calls, someone taking me under their wing. And because I couldn’t figure out how to make that happen, I told myself I didn’t have a mentor. Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt the same way, let me tell you this: you're not alone. And more importantly, you’ve likely had mentors all along. You just didn’t know it.

It wasn’t until about a year ago that everything shifted. I was aimlessly scrolling social media and came across a video from a woman I look up to and admire. In that video, she said something that changed the way I view mentorship forever: “Most of my mentors don’t even know I exist.”

She went on to explain that mentorship today doesn’t always come from a one-on-one relationship. In today’s world, we have access to some of the smartest, most inspiring people through podcasts, books, webinars, and social platforms. She had been learning from leaders for years, just by listening, reading, and observing. That was her version of mentorship.

That simple idea unlocked something in me. It might seem like a “well, duh” moment for some, but for me, it opened a door I didn’t even know existed. I realized I’d been mentored by countless people over the years. I just hadn’t been intentional about it — until now.

Once I accepted that my mentors didn’t need to know me personally, I got strategic. I asked myself two key questions:

1. Are they living a life I want to live? If someone’s work, values, and lifestyle don’t align with what you want, they’re not the right guide — no matter how successful they may appear.

2. Are they actively helping others succeed? Look for people who share what they know — whether through speaking, writing, or teaching. You can’t learn from someone who keeps it all to themselves.

Once I had a list of potential mentors — from industry leaders to motivational speakers — I started studying them. I know that word can sound strange in this context, but it’s exactly what I did. I paid attention to the details:

• What’s their daily routine?
• Who are they spending time with?
• What are their habits?
• How do they handle challenges?
• What books or tools do they recommend?
• How are they pouring into others?

Mentorship isn’t about copying someone’s life — it’s about identifying the behaviors, mindsets, and systems that make them effective, and adapting them to your own journey.

And here’s the part that matters most: you have to do the work. You can’t just follow, watch, or listen — you have to act on what you’re learning. That’s where real transformation happens.

In the trades industry, especially, this kind of mentorship can be powerful. Maybe there’s a contractor whose leadership style you admire. A business coach who breaks things down in a way that makes sense. A company culture you’d love to replicate. You don’t need an invitation to start learning from them. You just need to start paying attention — and then taking action.

Over time, you’ll start to notice something amazing: as you implement these new habits and perspectives, you’ll grow. Your team will grow. Your business will grow. You’ll begin attracting people who want to learn from you. And that’s when you realize — you’ve become a mentor yourself.

We often think mentorship is reserved for elite relationships or formal settings, but that’s not the case anymore. Mentorship today is accessible. It’s practical. And most importantly, it’s powerful when you treat it with intention.

So, whether you’re a new business owner in the trades or a seasoned pro trying to reach that next level, stop waiting for a mentor to show up. Choose them. Learn from them. Take what they teach and put it to work.

Success leaves clues. It’s your job to follow them.