---
title: Mentors Aren't Perfect
description: Learn about how to find the perfect mentor.  They do not need to be perfect.  They just need the right skill set you desire.
image: https://www.mentorresources.com/hs-fs/file-17669690-jpg/images/mentor_guru_bob_gibson-resized-600.jpg
---

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# Mentors Aren't Perfect

[ Bob Gibson ](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/author/bob-gibson)

 September 21, 2015

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You’re trying to find a mentor—the *perfect* mentor. The problem is, many people![](https://www.mentorresources.com/hs-fs/file-17669690-jpg/images/mentor_guru_bob_gibson-resized-600.jpg?t=1440346373294) you admire or think highly of have some flaw, some trait that turns you off.

 And guess what: that’s normal. People aren’t perfect. We ourselves aren’t perfect, yet we look for perfect mentors.

 Here’s the good news: your mentors don’t have to be perfect any more than *you* have to be perfect. They need to be accomplished in the area in which you seek their mentoring, and the two of you need to be compatible.

Here are a couple of extreme examples: No one would argue that Bill Clinton is a perfect person. And yet, who better to mentor you on the art of politics than someone who has served as governor of a state, and two terms as president of the United States?

 Who better to mentor you on competitive cycling than Lance Armstrong? The only person in history with *seven* [Tour de France](http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tour-de-france) wins. A perfect person? Not by a long mile. But is he eminently qualified to impart advice on his area of expertise? Absolutely.

 When you’re looking for a mentor, it doesn’t have to be a perfect fit. Look for someone who has the skill set you desire, the knowlede you need—someone who has done what you want to do and who has a personality you can connect with.

In our next blog, I’ll show you a model that helps you do that.

Until then, …….

[Mentoring Best Practices](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/topic/mentoring-best-practices) [Mentoring Program](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/topic/mentoring-program)

## Related Posts

### [June 13, 2012 When Mentoring is like a Bad Blind Date](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/bid/143517/when-mentoring-is-like-a-bad-blind-date)

### [November 21, 2011 Develop New Leaders with Mentoring and Coaching: A Message to Leaders](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/bid/104800/develop-new-leaders-with-mentoring-and-coaching-a-message-to-leaders)

### [February 24, 2020 Mentoring Software Comparison: What You Need to Know](https://www.mentorresources.com/mentoring-blog/mentoring-software-comparison-what-you-need-to-know)

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