It is usually difficult to select a person who can listen to you, work together with you, and give you advice that will have a lasting and meaningful impression on you. That is indeed the job of one kind of mentor - the confidant. You should have such a mentor when you are searching for a partner for life.

A mentor for any activity in life should have the requisite wisdom, knowledge, and experience to discuss things with you on a mature basis.

The mentor will offer two kinds of information:

• The facts and information that you need
  • Those objective resources could be obtained from other sources as well
  • They are not sufficient
• Your mentor should also be capable of offering suggestions or advice
• This information should based upon your own particular situation or circumstances
• You should be able to confide in the mentor
• The mentor should not be judgmental about you as an individual
• He should engender confidence in you - that he will accept you, silently

These factors will offer you a feeling of self-confidence.

How should you select a good mentor?

• Try to find somebody who has the right basic qualities:
  • He should be located conveniently
  • He should be knowledgeable
  • You should be able to relate to him
  • You should want to imitate his qualities
• Find a mentor with successful experience.
• Find a mentor who cares about you
  • He should not be aloof
  • He should not be filled with his own feelings of importance
  • He should relate to you
• Both sides should be prepared to benefit from the mentoring

That does not mean that you must find a person who is similar to you in every way. There may advantages to locating an individual with differences in attributes, qualities, or outlook. He can share his own ways of looking at things, and thereby help you see and relate to things from his new and exciting point of view.

The combination may be mutually beneficial. Opposites do not always attract, but they offer present a possible consideration.