The Mentorship Mirage: When Having a Mentor Is Not Enough

I have always believed in supporting the leaders of the future. That’s why I participate in as many mentorship programs as my time allows. One of them is a business accelerator program at a prestigious university in Mexico. It’s a great initiative where entrepreneurs are paired with experienced mentors to help them grow and scale their ventures.

Recently, I was assigned a young entrepreneur who, at first glance, had everything going for him. He was active on social media, selling online courses, and even holding conferences. He had achieved some level of success, which had given him confidence — perhaps even a bit of overconfidence. Seeing his potential, I was eager to share my experience and help him accelerate his brand’s growth.

As is often the case, a WhatsApp group was created to facilitate communication between the mentors and the mentee. The first challenge arose quickly — he was responsible for coordinating our schedules and setting up meetings. You can imagine how tricky it is to align the calendars of several high-level executives. But from the start, something felt off. It seemed that he was more interested in the prestige of having top mentors than in actually engaging with us.

Eventually, we had our first meeting. He explained his vision: he wanted to do everything, monetize fast, and take over the world. We all shared the same piece of advice: focus. If he truly wanted to build a strong brand, he needed consistency and expertise, something that only comes through practice.

I could see his frustration. He defended his ideas with conviction, supported by his past successes. He wasn’t entirely open to our feedback, but at least the conversation happened.

Then came the second meeting — or rather, it didn’t. He never scheduled it. He never followed up. He never engaged with any of the mentors again. And that’s when I realized something crucial.

Mentorship Has Become a Status Symbol

Nowadays, everyone wants a mentor. It’s trendy. It’s something people mention on LinkedIn, something that makes them look ambitious and forward-thinking. But here’s the real issue: having a mentor is useless if you don’t have the attitude to be mentored.

Mentorship is not just about being connected to influential people. It’s about having the willingness to listen, learn, and apply feedback, even when it challenges your beliefs. Many young professionals and entrepreneurs see mentorship as a badge of honor rather than a process of growth. They think that surrounding themselves with accomplished people will automatically lead to success. But mentorship is not osmosis. Wisdom doesn’t transfer just because you’re in the same room as someone successful.

Be A Mentee, Not Just Someone With a Mentor

The best mentees are not the ones who seek high-profile mentors but the ones who actively engage, listen, and act on advice. Here’s what it truly takes to benefit from mentorship:

1. Humility to Learn – No matter how much you have achieved, there’s always more to learn. Approach mentorship with an open mind, ready to accept that you don’t have all the answers.

2. Consistency in Engagement – A mentor is not a magic button that you press when you need help. It’s a relationship. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, don’t expect results.

3. Action-Oriented Mindset – Listening is great, but execution is everything. Advice that isn’t implemented is just noise.

4. Patience for Growth – Real success is built over time. If you’re looking for instant results, mentorship won’t work for you.

5. Respect for the Mentor’s Time – Mentors are busy people. If they are willing to invest their time in you, value it. That means showing up, following up, and being serious about your own development.

Do You Really Want a Mentor?

The young entrepreneur I mentored was talented. He had potential. But he lacked the right mindset. He wasn’t looking for guidance — he was looking for validation. And that’s why mentorship didn’t work for him.

So before you seek a mentor, ask yourself: Am I truly ready to be mentored? Because in the end, it’s not about finding the right mentor, it’s about being the right kind of mentee.

Let’s revolutionize leadership!