The document discusses misconceptions about mentoring, clarifying that a good mentor does not provide constant emotional support like a therapist or a friend. Instead, a good mentor offers valuable industry knowledge, pushes for self-sufficiency, and prioritizes the mentee's best interests without being overly available. It emphasizes the need for realistic expectations in a mentoring relationship.

1. What Is Good
Mentoring?
Sramana Mitra
Founder, One Million by One Million

2. Entrepreneurs have huge
misconceptions about what is
a good Mentoring relationship

3. Myth No. 1:
Mentor meets with me
weekly
Mentor meets with me
weekly

4. Myth No. 2:
Always available
whenever I need to talk.
Pulls me up when I am down.
Pulls me up when I am down.
Pulls me up when I am down.
Pulls me up when I am down.

5. Myth No. 1:
Mentor meets with me
weekly
Sheryl Sandberg: No, that’s a therapist
Sheryl Sandberg: No, that’s a therapist
Sheryl Sandberg: No, that’s a therapist

6. Myth No. 2:
Always available
whenever I need to talk.
Pulls me up when I am down.
Sramana Mitra: No, that’s a friend, or a parent.
Sramana Mitra: No, that’s a friend, or a parent.
Sramana Mitra: No, that’s a friend, or a parent.
Sramana Mitra: No, that’s a friend, or a parent.
Sramana Mitra: No, that’s a friend, or a parent.

7. A Good Mentor
• Has superior knowledge and network in
the industry you are trying to navigate
• Is willing to tell you what you ‘need’ to hear,
not what you ‘want’ to hear
• Looks out for your best interest
• Connects dots whenever possible to get
you further

8. A Good Mentor
• Gives you knowledge, advice, introductions
without wasting your time, or his/her own
time
• Pushes you to do more, do better
• Will not sit next to you and hold your hand
• Is busy, active, in-demand
• Helps you learn, become self-sufficient

9. Be realistic. Do not look for a
therapist, a friend, a parent, or a
family-member in your mentor.

10. Be realistic. Do not look for a
therapist, a friend, a parent, or a
family-member in your mentor.