Desperation is the Name of the Game
If all things are equal between two candidates that want me to be their mentor, what would be the difference, that would make all the difference? No, it’s not how equity you will give me or how much respect you have for me… The correct answer is – desperation.
I am not referring to the desperation to get time, money or references, but the desperation that burns through the eyes and words of the prospective mentee to succeed. The desperation that cannot be dissuaded by failure, drowned out by rejection or simply because they didn’t get an immediate response from someone they attempted reaching out to for help. I am referring to that desperation that will make a person turn the world upside down to get what they want – yes that desperation.
In a world of unlimited opportunity, this is the kind of desperation I look for, to decide who I should devote my limited time (a precious resource) to. A person must innately want to achieve the skill he is seeking my mentorship for, and not only be attempting to achieve it because he ‘has to’. This distinction leads to a visible difference in the amount of passion and desperation a person exudes.
The lack of this type of desperation and conviction in the importance of achieving that skill doesn’t bode well for my ROTI (Return on Time Invested).
So, if you think I’m being arrogant, standoffish or aloof to your call for help, I am only checking to see if you are as desperate as you are making it out to be.
29/2018
TheSumanJha
Hi Nice article!
I was trying to understand the article. And I believe, I am able to understand one part of it and that is you care founder hungers and passion which I believe every founder has. But on the other hand are you saying as a founder I should keep calling or emailing the person whom I would like to be my mentor and if your answer is yes at what extent I should keep doing ?
I hope I am clear. Thank You!
Gauravkumar Kate
@theSumanJha, pardon me for my rudeness. My understanding of this article is different than yours. First, not all cofounders, founders or buddying entrepreneurs are equally passionate. Degree of passion varies tremendously from person to person, otherwise everybody here would be ‘Elon Musk’. Second, seeking mentorship is not a goal here, achieving product market fit is the goal(here product is the relation between Mentor and Mentee). The one who is willing to mentor will respond to your calls and messages. If in case you are unable to reach your mentor directly, keep taking passive mentorship in terms of his blogs, speeches, books, actions and ideologies, one day your mentor will find your passion ;). This is what I leaned from ‘Eklavya’ of Mahabharata. Cheers to your Passion for asking direct questions.
TheSumanJha
Thank You for sharing your understanding!! But I was curious should I ask indirect questions ? 😛 Meanwhile that’s what I do or the only option I have is to learn as much as I can from all the available resources 🙂 Cheers!
ShowMeDamani
I agree with your comment Gaurav. Imho a mentor is always willing to help but they have limited resources (time).
Rajendra Singh
Great thought Try to be good conveyor not Speaker let your words hit right spot of Mind n synergy where Any one will think about your solution
Product can’t be sold
Product should be solution for N prospect of selling matter when we are concerned about solving problem with product we are selling will be by default sold
ShowMeDamani
Thank you for the kind comments @thesumanjha
The post was written in a moment of passion so the vagueness could be excused (please!)
1. Not all founders are passionate and hungry – it will be clear once you meet one that does not have these qualities
2. There is a difference between “would like to” and “want to”. It is that difference which will make you fly halfway across the world to get the help you want when emails & calls dont work.
3. My ol’ boss used to say that one isnt asking for hard enough if they arent thrown out of 3 sales calls a day. In this case you only have to seek out a few mentors to help you and if anyone of them does infact kick you out of their home/business – pat yourself on your back for being “desperate” for success. Its their loss not yours 🙂
Aakash Garg
I really like this para and I agree with your comment
In a world of unlimited opportunity, this is the kind of desperation I look for, to decide who I should devote my limited time (a precious resource) to. A person must innately want to achieve the skill he is seeking my mentorship for, and not only be attempting to achieve it because he ‘has to’. This distinction leads to a visible difference in the amount of passion and desperation a person exudes.
saurav singh
thanks for sharing
Rohan
thank you for the useful information.
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