For most of my career, I’ve looked at mentorship as something I needed, and not something I had to give. I’ve benefited greatly from mentors in my life. I saw them as wise and experienced. I saw myself as a learner. They helped me see things and understand challenges in ways that I could not on my own.

I think I will probably benefit from being mentored for the rest of my life, but when is the right time to flip it around? In this article, I’ll attempt to convince you that the time is now.

Why don’t you mentor someone?

The first thought that may come to mind, is simply “I’m too busy,” but I think that’s just on the surface. I think there’s a deeper reason inside. For me, it was confidence. I’m in the middle of my career. I think to myself that I haven’t really accomplished anything yet. Sure, I’ve had some wins, but I certainly haven’t transformed the world of technology and business like Elon Musk or Richard Branson. Who would want to listen to me? What do I really have to offer?

About five years ago, I realized that this is the wrong mindset. I thought I needed to become a master before I should seek an apprentice. Even if I am a master, I rarely feel like it. Here’s what really works:

People aren’t looking for masters

They aren’t. Masters are hard to relate to. People want to be mentored by someone that is only slightly ahead of them in the journey. It keeps the conversation relevant because your experience as a mentor isn’t too far removed from the experience of the mentee.

You need to understand that you can and should mentor. If you have been doing your thing for more than a year, then you’ve got more experience than some and you are ready to pass it on.

How to find a mentee

I’ve participated in a few formal mentorship programs. One of the best is through my alma mater, Bethel University. They have over one hundred business students paired with alumni mentors. They have a well-organized program and intentional approach for paring mentors and mentees.

I’ve also had people reach out to me in informal ways. Some of these relationships last only a few meetings and have a very focused purpose. Others have lasted many years.

I don’t advertise that I’m looking for mentees. People just seem to come looking for me. Those that put in the effort and initiative, I reward with my time and attention.

How to mentor

I find this to be the easiest part. I make the mentee do all of the work. They set the agenda, schedule the meetings, define the goals, and own all of the homework. All I do is show up and give them my undivided attention. I pull from my relevant first-hand experiences as appropriate and let the conversation flow.

Think back to where you were five years ago. Don’t you wish someone would have mentored you through that time? Or perhaps they did, and you can recall how much that helped you. Now is the time to be that mentor for someone else. Make it happen.