WriteScouts: Finding a Mentor

I’ve been doing this writing thing for a long time now. Over the years, I’ve seen talented writers drop out of the game. Frankly, it’s not just writers that drop out of the game. A lot of solopreneurs push forward, driven, striving to be the best, determined to make a living.

Until they don’t.

Just last week I found out that a woman who I considered a mentor, a woman who I have followed for years, took a day job with a company. This is a woman who I thought was at the top of her game, someone who I looked up to, someone I wanted to be like, the person I strove to be. What first caught my attention years ago was that she was very transparent and shared income information on her blog. She shared her methods, her processes. When she opened up a membership group that promised fresh content, proven methods, and a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, I signed up, even though it was a financial stretch for me. This wasn’t a one-time commitment; this was an annual membership fee. I’ve paid for four years, faithfully read her posts, done the workbooks, and spread the word. I’ve recommended that others invest in her program. Earlier this year, she sent a post saying that she’d been quiet, but that she was working on three major projects, including a couple that promised amazing brand development info (which I need). She was open about the fact that she’d crossed the 6 figure mark, and was working towards the 7 figure mark.

In short, I thought I had attached myself to a shooting star.

When she got quiet, I was excited. We’d been promised live videos, new content. I thought that was all just around the corner.

Then last week, I learned that she had taken a day job. I still held out hope that this was part of her plan, that she still intended to keep building her masterclass program. Instead, she posted a comment on Facebook that stung. She said she’d been looking for an exit strategy for a couple of years, that she’d run out of knowledge, and that there would be no refunds. It sounded dismissive. I read all her emails, I read her posts, I follow her on social media, I take her classes – and I had zero inkling that she was looking for an “exit strategy.”

To top it off, I discovered in that post that, unlike my annual payment, others paid a flat fee for a “lifetime” membership.

I was stung. I AM stung. I’m still not sure how to feel about this.

But what does all this mean for you? It means that you need to gain knowledge wherever you can, but that you need to know who your mentors are. Do your research. Know what your mentors can offer you. Recognize that your mentors are human. They will let you down. They will make mistakes. Take what they offer, use their knowledge – but know that the only person responsible for your success is YOU.

I hope you’ll find my posts useful. If you want to be a writer, I hope you’ll find my WriteScouts course(s) helpful. Most of all, I hope that you find my knowledge and encouragement worthy.

I sincerely want to help others achieve their dreams. I want to live up to your expectations. Let me know what your dreams are. Tell me about your obstacles. Let me know how I can help you.