“If only I had someone I trusted to guide me…”
 

You have talent, passion, and drive.  You feel ready to take on the world, yet the road ahead seems uncertain. 

 

You wish you knew someone who was further along on the journey.  Someone who knew the right questions to ask.  Perhaps even someone to provide encouragement, at the time you need it most. 

 

Our NGA Mentor-Guides have been where you want to go.  First, however, you have to prove you are worthy of their time.

 

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Enlisting the help of experienced mentors is a skill that every Adventurer needs. To master it, you must practice. Your training starts now.

 

To start your Next Great Adventure Mentor Guide relationship requires five steps:
 

1. Research Your Mentor Guide
    

2. Create Your Outreach Communication
    

3. Get a Greenlight
    

4. Secure the “Yes”
    

5. Prepare and Execute Kickoff Meeting

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1. Research Your Mentor Guide

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Find out as much as you can about your Mentor Guide. Research on the internet, ask peers or colleagues what they know, and read anything they've written. Look for:

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• Similarities: Does your story overlap with theirs? Could any similarities help you learn from and create connections with your Mentor Guide?
   

• Differences/Surprises: What surprises you about them or their life? What differences in experience, perspective, values, or passions are you curious to know more about? (You'll probably learn much more from differences than from similarities.)
   

• Questions: What do you want to know more about? What could you ask them that only they could answer?​
   

2. Create Your Mentor Guide Initial Outreach Communication
 

Your initial outreach email must include: 
 

• Email introduction using:

  • ​This initial outreach email template and

  • These outreach email examples;
     

• Link to your introductory video using this initial outreach video template;

  1. ​Draft your script, practice reading on camera

  2. Record your video in a well-lit space and consider these best practices.

  3. Save your video to Google Drive, set it to viewable by anyone (important!), and link to it from your email.
      

• A link to your promises using this Mentor Guide Covenant.

  • Add required information and customize if needed

  • Review, sign, save it to Google Drive, set it to viewable by anyone, and link to it from your email
     

3. Get a Greenlight
 

• Send your email, video, and covenant to tpryor@actonmba.org for approval before sending.
   

4. Secure a "Yes" and Schedule Kickoff

• Send your initial outreach email with a link to your video and Covenant to your Mentor Guide

• Continue the conversation until you receive a "Yes" 

• Send an email using this template to schedule your kickoff meeting.
   

5. Prepare and Execute Kickoff Meeting
 

The goal is to kickoff your Mentor Guideship with a 20-minute conversation. This conversation should focus on specific questions, not general life questions. The goals are:

 

• Establish your interest in their experience and guidance

• Build a connection with this person by sharing more of your story (but remember, you are NOT the focus of this conversation)

• Address any questions regarding the Mentor Guide Covenant

• Secure a signed copy of the Mentor Guide Covenant
   

Brainstorm questions you'd like to ask your Mentor Guide. What are your similarities, differences, or questions you have about their life and experiences? What are the reasons why you are most excited for them to be your Mentor Guide?  Here is a list of sample interview questions.
 

When you are finished, proceed to Weekly Updates