Recently in my ever-evolving and growing position with the chamber, I was encouraged to seek out a mentor. The thought of sitting down and having coffee with one of the most powerful people in the area both intrigued me and made me nervous as heck.

Where would we go? What would I have, a cup of coffee or a snack or a big breakfast? Should I have my notebook out? What would we talk about?Obviously a mentorship isn't meant to cause anxiety. Connecting with someone on a professional and sometimes personal level is designed to help us grow and be more successful.There are no hard and fast rules on who you should choose as a mentor. There are, however, great ways to seek out a mentor who you can learn the most from and who will find the relationship mutually fulfilling.Start by knowing who is not a good mentor. A mentor is typically not your spouse or best friend.The level with which you know each other is too deep and one of you will inevitably miss the objective of guidance, growth and overcoming challenges. Seek out someone who you may or may not be too familiar with. That person can be from within your company, industry or networking group or outside of it. Keep in mind the goals of mentorship, which are to build trust and respect while seeking knowledge, advice and suggestions for you improve your skills and possibly advance your career. A good mentor is a coach, a trainer and a consultant all in one.If you are not sure where to turn to find a mentor, ask for assistance. Remember that a mentor will help you build your leadership and communication skills, so be open minded about you approach. I spoke with my boss about specific struggles I encounter in my position. He was encouraging and was able to connect me with a great mentor who was perfectly qualified to help me develop my skills and improve my current operations.It is always great to check with your human resources department first, as a program may be in place. The chamber is also a good place to turn, there are many qualified and willing mentor candidates who are actively part of the organization. It's also important to note that having more than one mentor isn't a bad idea. A great suggestion I heard was to have one mentor who is very much like you in their career path and one who is the complete opposite in their path. The two different types of mentors will help you to become a well-rounded and balanced professional.After I set up my meeting with my mentor, I wanted to make sure I was prepared for the meeting. A lot of Googling and note-taking led me to a notation of the most important question to ask: "How should I follow up?" Make sure you have your mentor's contact information and that they are OK with connecting again in the future. Oftentimes a mentor will want to know that their investment in you was well-spent.Whatever your personal goal is of having a mentor, make sure you don't waste the time you have with the experienced professional. And remember, follow-up is key; they are interested in your path and are cheering you toward success!