The Pirate Island Paradox
Watch out for the Pirate Island Paradox—if you’re not careful it can pull you into a cycle of defeat.
It says, “To reach your promised land, you must have been to your promised land or learn from someone who has.”
Here’s why: imagine being a pirate in ancient times seeking treasure without a map. Unless someone has been there or can guide you, you’re lost.
Partner success operates the same way.
You either need prior experience or guidance from someone who has successfully built their programs.
Enter mentors.
Learn from mentors online. People like—Nelson Wang, Will Taylor, Greg Portnoy, Sam Yarborough, Alex Richards, Franz-Josef Schrepf, Scott Pollack, Allan Adler, Adam Pasch, and so many more.
Join communities like Partnership Leaders.
Take courses through platforms like Firneo, PXP, and Partnernomics.
And if you’re seeking a real-life mentor, keep reading. Learn the strategies others in your shoes have used to land the best mentors out there!
How to earn a mentor
2 years ago, I started working for Jared Fuller and the first thing I noticed was the people he was surrounded by.
His mentors were industry legends like Jill Rowley (23+ years in B2B & the Queen of Social Selling), Bobby Napiltonia (Built the Salesforce AppExchange), and Pete Caputa (Built HubSpot’s Partner Program).
Over time, I learned Jared’s playbook for earning mentors.
He calls it being “mentor-worthy.”
This is a replicable approach for any partner pro willing to invest the effort.
Mentors are the people who represent where you want to be in 3-5 years. They’ve been to your promised land and are still close enough that they can offer you meaningful assistance.
Here’s the playbook:
Join communities
Find the watering holes of the people you want to be connected with. Communities create more opportunities than just mentorship. Think partnerships, friendships, masterminds, and more!
Be proactive
Identify potential mentors, consume their content, become a superfan, and then find ways you can help. Don’t make any requests yet.
Give, give, give
You can just feel when someone wants something. Cultivate a reputation as a contributor to the community. After you’ve provided immense value to both the community and the target mentor, you can express your interest to set up a call.
Show them you’re serious
Experienced professionals give advice openly, but few people act on it. If you get the opportunity to receive advice, take notes, and diligently implement every piece of advice. Avoid immediately asking for mentorship, and instead, come back to them after a month to share your results.
“Since our last call, here’s everything I did. Do you mind if I grab another slot with you?”
Experienced professionals don’t like wasting their time. If they see they’re impacting you and your business, the call becomes more meaningful.
Foster your connection
As your relationship develops, demonstrate genuine care and appreciation.
Forget the movie moment where a mentor randomly points, "YOU," and changes the trajectory of your life.
Mentorship is earned.
For those of you aspiring to be key players in the decade of the ecosystem, it’s important who you surround yourself with.
Be mentor-worthy and actively pursue good mentors.
While learning from people on LinkedIn is great, nothing beats the real thing!
When words just don’t cut it
The next time you’re with family or friends attempting to explain partnerships, try drawing a visual.
It worked for Emilie Gieler!
Help other partner pros build community
Share this NbD with a partner pro looking to get involved, stay up-to-date on trends, and learn from the best in B2B
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