FINDING A MENTOR
“don't propose marriage. ask for coffee. compliment. start small.”
The Lesson
Don't ask someone to 'be your mentor'-it's like proposing marriage on the first date. Instead: (1) Ask for a single coffee or lunch. (2) Give a sincere compliment about why you chose them. (3) Keep time commitments small. Key insight: mentors WANT to help-it makes them feel important and successful. People love giving advice. If you're underrepresented (young, female, minority), successful people especially want to help because the impact feels more meaningful. Cold outreach to strangers works. Just ask.
Real-World Example
A founder wants advice from a successful CEO they've never met. Wrong: 'Will you be my mentor?' Right: 'I admire how you scaled from seed to Series C. Could I buy you coffee and ask three specific questions?' The CEO says yes. They love talking about their success. After three coffees over six months, they're mentoring without anyone asking.
Watch Scott explain this lesson
Watch Lesson on Locals →