Why Every Freelancer and Remote Worker Need a Mentor

On Friday, a Twitter follower told me that he missed my Upwork Masterclass and would love to know at least a few things about what happened.

I had it in mind to share a snippet of the class with him, and then we will take it from there, depending on how he wants to proceed.

However, I was surprised by his offer. Few people think the way he does, and I had not met people like that before who were so intentional about what they wanted.

To cut the story short, he suggested hopping on a call with me and promised that; for every minute we spent on the call, he would pay me #2,000. I thought he was joking until he requested my WhatsApp direct line, and we spoke for about twenty-eight minutes.

He kept asking questions, and I assume he was jotting down some things. He was inquisitive and curious, and I love that about him.

At the end of our call, he sent me #60,000 for our conversation, which was less than an hour. For the first time, I felt different.

This is someone I didn’t know from anywhere before that just paid for what I have been sharing for free for a few years.

One good thing about the whole thing is that; when I asked him why he did that, he understood how busy I can be as a freelancer, and it’s only polite he appreciates my time with something. After all, mentors are not free! He’s a knowledgeable man!

So today, based on my weekend experience, I want to talk about mentorship and its importance for freelancers and workers.

Mentors have been there for a while, and they understand the grey areas. Having someone to talk to reduces your travel span and accelerates your growth and journey.

So what are the things you gain from talking to a mentor?

-Experience and guidance:

A mentor who has been in the freelance or remote working field for a while can provide valuable experience and guidance to help you navigate the industry.

They can offer advice on handling difficult clients, how to market yourself effectively, and how to balance your workload.

Also, they can help you understand the industry trends and what to expect. Furthermore, a mentor can provide feedback on your work and help you improve your skills.

In this era where it is increasingly difficult to land a quality gig and client on freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr, a mentor can change your perspective and let you know other areas you can explore to be productive.

-Networking opportunities:

Having a mentor who can vouch for your work and introduce you to potential clients can make a huge difference.

A mentor can introduce you to their network of contacts, which can help you expand your own client base and find new job opportunities.

This can be incredibly valuable when starting out as a freelancer or remote worker, as it can be challenging to build a network from scratch.

When I was starting up, one of the graces I had was that my mentor introduced me to people who gave me jobs to do while I was waiting for my first client. Even though the pay was not too good, it opened my eyes to the world of remote working and toughened me up to give it my all to land my direct clients to get better paid.

-Personal and professional growth:

A mentor can help you identify areas for personal and professional growth and provide the support and resources you need to develop the skills you need to succeed.

Also, they can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback on how to improve. They can also help you set goals and create a plan to achieve them.

In a constantly changing era, you need advice on where to go if your skill is threatened.

After speaking with one of my mentors, I got perspective on the kind of skill to develop to avoid being threatened by the rise of generative AIs like Chatgpt and the likes.

-Goal setting and accountability:

A mentor can help you set realistic and achievable goals for yourself and hold you accountable for meeting them.

They can help you stay focused and motivated and make steady progress toward your long-term career goals.

Having someone to hold you accountable can make it easier to stay on track and reach your goals.

-A sounding board:

A mentor can provide a sounding board for your ideas and thoughts. They can help you work through challenges or give you a fresh perspective when you feel stuck.

Also, Mentors can provide valuable feedback on your ideas and help you develop new solutions.

Having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off can be precious when working independently.

Having a mentor can provide freelancers and remote workers with the guidance, support, and resources they need to navigate the industry and achieve their goals fast.

They can provide experience and advice, networking opportunities, help with personal and professional growth, hold you accountable and be a sounding board when needed.

In this world of dynamism across the board, it is easy to lose out on many opportunities due to wasting of time disguised as patience or losing out on more rewarding growth opportunities due to sticking with an outdated talent or skill. But with the guidance of a mentor, it is amazing the extent of opportunities available for one to grow.

PLEASE NOTE: Mentors have a life of their own. If you want them to sacrifice their life for you, it is only honorable to reciprocate, whether in cash or kind. As someone still struggling financially, it is always good to make it up to your mentor in other rewarding ways.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoy this, kindly share it with your network and buy me coffee.