Make Me Amazing!

All of us partake in some self-reflection regarding our careers from time to time. Sometimes, this might lead us to a place where we realise we’ve taken everything we can from what we’re currently doing, and it’s time for a sideways move or promotion; sometimes, it might lead to an epiphany and a complete change of direction; but most of the time, we just realise we want to improve a certain aspect of what we’re currently doing. The third blog in our series of interviews with MaM Founder Barry Cranford aims to help you do just that.

So, if you think you could be better at what you do, or one part of what you do, and you’d like some help formulating the right questions to ask your mentor, this is the blog for you.

I asked Barry what the best way is for people to use these questions…

‘You should ask these questions to people that have reached the level of mastery in a subject area that you would like to, or are much further along the journey than yourself.

I’d also recommend asking the same questions to as many people as you possibly can that have done this role, their answers will very likely be different based on their experience. Look for patterns in the advice you’re given.’

Without further ado, here are Barry’s Top 10 questions to help you to get amazing at what you do:

• Can you tell me about your journey to becoming as good as you are at this? Did you have any eureka moments along the way?
• What advice would you give a younger version of yourself trying to become as good as you are in half the time? What about a tenth of the time?
• From an 80/20 perspective, what would you say is the most important 20% I should learn first?
• Who is the best person you know at this? What makes them better than others you know?
• Have you personally come across any shortcuts to learning this?
• Was there any advice you were given that either worked or didn’t work to get into this?
• Which are the best books you have read on this role?
• Which are the best blogs to read on this subject?
• Are there any thought leaders you would recommend looking out for that would help me in this role? What are they saying at the moment?
• Have you come across anything or anyone that has helped you move forward in this role?

The final blog in this series will be out soon – keep an eye out! In the meantime, if you haven’t already, take a look at our website  to find more about our brilliant (and totally free) mentoring scheme.

P.S. if you’ve not read the first two blogs in this series, they’re all about helping you to explore your career options, whether long or short term and helping you to find the best route to a known career goal.  Well worth a read (if we do say so ourselves!)