3 principles of a great startup mentor
Over the past decade as a Techstar mentee and mentor, The best mentors value authentic, two-way relationships over mere mentorship tasks and “catching up.”
The best mentors follow these principles…
Relationship Over Mentorship — The best mentors prioritize the relationship with their mentees over the mentorship itself. An authentic connection is invaluable, and the relationship/benefit is seen as two-way by both parties.
Character Over Skills — The best mentors focus not just on job skills but also on developing the mentee's character; paramount are self-awareness, empathy, and accountability.
Optimism Over Cynicism — The best mentors are rational optimists. Creativity requires optimism. I've always loved Nat Friedman's (CEO of GitHub) quote: "Pessimists sound smart. Optimists make money."