Coach with Me
Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

by | Jan 4, 2019

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

Identify one-of-a-kind insights by connecting wisdom from an eclectic group of experts.

Style

Inventor

Skill

Choosing a Mentor

Commitment

Ongoing

THE LIBRARY:

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

 When you write a novel, some experts advise that you find at least three ideas to rub together. Your specific combination of ideas is what makes your book unique. In the same way, an eclectic assortment of mentors can help you find fresh insight that might otherwise be difficult to see. For instance, what might a painter, a musician, and a chef teach you about pacing? The opportunities are vast, and only limited by your imagination.

A Think Tank of Mentors can help you:

  • See the same question from various points of view
  • Connect previously unconnected dots
  • Stumble across exciting, perfect-fit ideas for your specific project

Materials

Assembling a Think Tank of Mentors

  • Computer
  • Paper
  • Pen
  • Library (optional)

1. Start by identifying your learning question. If you’re not sure what it is, make a list of ten to twenty questions. Narrow your focus by ranking or revising the questions until you have one clear, focused question.

2. List types of people who might weigh in on your question. Consider artists of all genres, thought-leaders, experts past and present, and even friends, family, and acquaintances. Remember, mentors don’t have to be older than you. You’re looking for a range of people who will provide you with a range of perspective.

3. Your list may include specific names such as “Uncle Gino” and categories of people, like “chef.” Set aside specific names for now. First, look at your categories. Does anyone immediately pop to mind to fill that role? Widen your circle of options by researching on information-rich sites such as YouTube, Amazon, Wikipedia, or your favorite podcast browser.

4. Once you have a list of ten-twenty names, it’s time to follow your intuition. Review the names as though you’re a casting director. What group of four or five people would make for fascinating dinner party conversation?

5. Once you’ve chosen your Think Tank, create a space to collect their thoughts in a way that will spark your creativity. Consider a shared bookshelf, a project folder, a bulletin board, or an online tool … or use a few collection spaces.

6. Let these experts’ thoughts rattle around together for a while. Follow your curiosity. Make sure to take time to write and reflect regularly. Often you don’t know all you’re discovering until you sit down to capture those thoughts.

7. If you start to feel the urge to shake things up, consider adding an expert, swapping someone out of the Think Tank, or creating a brand new group of experts.

Try On Other Creative Styles

Profile Three Experts

FOR ARCHITECTS

Use insight from three experts to lead you to the perfect-fit mentor.

Try This

Create a Learner's Book Club

FOR COLLABORATORS

Collaborate with a few friends to gain the most out of your next mentorship experience.

Try This

Choose One Expert

FOR SPECIAL AGENTS

Focus on one expert in this strategic learning exercise.

Try This

Profile Three Experts

Profile Three Experts

by | Jan 4, 2019

Profile Three Experts

Use insight from three experts to lead you to the perfect-fit mentor.

Style

Architect

Skill

Choosing a Mentor

Commitment

Ongoing

THE LIBRARY:

Profile Three Experts

 

When you’re seeking out a mentor, use the guidance of experts to point your way. When you take the time to profile three experts before choosing a mentor, you’ll gain structured insight to help you make the best possible decision.

Profiling three experts will help you:

  • Meet their mentors and widen your knowledge of the field
  • Identify pitfalls and shortcuts
  • Clarify what might work (and not work) for you

Materials

Profile Three Experts

  • Computer

  • Paper

  • Pen
  • Library (optional)

1. Choose three experts on your topic. Vary your group by considering age, culture, background, genre, and other factors. While you can choose someone you know, remember you can also choose anyone you can research online–past or present.

2. Profile your three experts by gathering as many answers as you can to the following questions.

– What is this expert known for?

– What two or three successes stand out?

– What two or three setbacks stand out?

– Who are/were their mentors? (Bibliographies and acknowledgement sections are great places to explore influential people in an expert’s life.)

– What books, resources, or tools does this expert recommend?

– Does this expert offer any step-by-step guidance, a framework, or strategies you might try? (Note the top one or two that resonate with you if you encounter an abundance of options.)

– What quotes from this expert embody their message?

3. Review your three profiles. Does one of these experts stand out as a strong match to guide your next steps? Or, did your research point to someone new you’d like to explore?

4. If you’ve chosen a thought leader as a mentor, take a month or so to soak in their expertise. Read, watch, and/or listen to whatever you can from them, and remember to reflect along the way. Once the month is up, evaluate your progress and decide whether to stick with the same mentor next month, or whether to move on to another expert who can push your growth in a new direction.

5. Or, if you’ve chosen a hands-on mentor, contact that person and set up your first meeting! Don’t forget to share what you learned from your profiling process with your mentor. The more you communicate about your goals and questions, the more effective your mentor can be in helping you move strategically forward.

Try On Other Creative Styles

Choose One Expert

FOR SPECIAL AGENTS

Focus on one expert in this strategic learning exercise.

Try This

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

FOR INVENTORS

Identify one-of-a-kind insights by connecting wisdom from an eclectic group of experts.

Try This

Create a Learner's Book Club

FOR COLLABORATORS

Collaborate with a few friends to gain the most out of your next mentorship experience.

Try This

Create a Learner’s Book Club

Create a Learner’s Book Club

by | Jan 3, 2019

Create a Learner’s Book Club

Collaborate with a few friends to gain the most out of your next mentorship experience.

Style

Collaborator

Skill

Choosing a Mentor

Commitment

Ongoing

THE LIBRARY:

Create a Learner’s Book Club

 

While you certainly can set out on learning journey on your own, sometimes the added perspective and camaraderie of a group of friends makes all the difference. In a Learner’s Book Club, you can compare notes, share insights, and hold one another accountable. Even if you’re not a Collaborator all the time, this is one situation in which you may be well-served by trying on the Collaborator hat.

A Learner’s Book Club can help you:

  • Explore questions more fully from various vantage points
  • Discover new experts you don’t know about yet
  • Share the responsibility of forming questions and seeking answers

Materials

Structuring a Learner’s Book Club

  • Book

  • Discussion Questions

  • Snacks!

1. Reach out to small group to test the waters. Who else is interested in learning about the topic you want to explore?

2. Choose a book on the topic and invite your list of interested friends to a meet-up. Everyone should read the book ahead of time.

3. Prepare a set of simple questions. Here are some to spark your creativity:

What questions came up as you read this book?

What strategies stood out?

Did you try any? If so, how did they work? What might you try next?

What are you still wondering? (This last question is a great one when thinking about a best next book.)

4. Once you’ve had one meeting, follow up with friends who could make a strong ongoing group. Now that you’ve met, you’ll know more about group dynamics and the best size for your Learner’s Book Club.

5. If possible, rotate leaders. Each time a group member is the leader, they should pick the book, bring the list of questions, and generally facilitate the discussion.

P.S. Don’t forget the snacks!

Try On Other Creative Styles

Profile Three Experts

FOR ARCHITECTS

Use insight from three experts to lead you to the perfect-fit mentor.

Try This

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

FOR INVENTORS

Identify one-of-a-kind insights by connecting wisdom from an eclectic group of experts.

Try This

Choose One Expert

FOR SPECIAL AGENTS

Focus on one expert in this strategic learning exercise.

Try This

Choose One Expert

Choose One Expert

by | Jan 3, 2019

Choose One Expert

Focus on one expert in this strategic learning exercise.

Style

Special Agent

Skill

Choosing a Mentor

Commitment

Ongoing

THE LIBRARY:

Choose One Expert

 

Expert mentors are a particularly strategic shortcut, which makes them an excellent fit for Special Agents. You can stand on the shoulders of experts, past or present, and leap forward. When you’re considering a mentor, think expansively. Sometimes an author, podcaster, or other thought leader is the perfect person to guide you forward, even if you can’t meet with them and speak face-to-face.

An expert mentor can help you:

  • Gain new perspective
  • Better understand the landscape of your field
  • Discover resources or tools to help you bypass trial and error

Materials

How to Choose

  • Timer

  • Paper

  • Pencil
  • Computer (optional)

1. Set a timer for five minutes.

2. Make a list of questions related to your current creative project.

3. Once the time is up, review your list. Do you see any patterns?

4. Create a focusing question to guide your next learning and growth step. Start with “How might I … ?”

4. List any experts that come to mind who might shed light on your question. Think widely: visual artists, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, researchers, etc.

5. Spend a few minutes on Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon, Pinterest, or iTunes. Notice which experts top the lists when you search for articles, books, podcasts, and videos related to your question.

6. Using the information you’ve gathered, choose one mentor for the week. Soak in material by or about them. Listen to a podcast by or about them, read a book by them (or listen to a Blinkist summary about their book), or watch a video by or about them.

7. At the end of the week, review what you’ve learned. Can you transform any of your learning into a practical strategy to try? Would you like to continue learning from this mentor, or choose a new one?

Try On Other Creative Styles

Profile Three Experts

FOR ARCHITECTS

Use insight from three experts to lead you to the perfect-fit mentor.

Try This

Assemble a Think Tank of Mentors

FOR INVENTORS

Identify one-of-a-kind insights by connecting wisdom from an eclectic group of experts.

Try This

Create a Learner's Book Club

FOR COLLABORATORS

Collaborate with a few friends to gain the most out of your next mentorship experience.

Try This