Ask anyone in business the secrets to success and you will find a common thread: all of them has had the guidance of a mentor or a business coach. A mentor could be a friend, a father, a successful businessman, a professor, or someone who has been in the business much longer than you. A mentor is someone who has been through it so she can guide you through the pitfalls, the mistakes, and how to handle the success of a business startup. Finding a mentor for your online art gallery is crucial to your success.

Finding the right mentor can be a difficult exercise, so let's look at what one looks for in a mentor for an online art gallery:

• Experience in the art world
• Success at different aspects of his life: business, personal, community
• Successful experience with different aspects of business: finance, sales, human resources, coaching, technology.

Be Specific with Your Needs

Why are you looking for a mentor? What do you hope to accomplish by having a mentor guide you in your business? These are great questions to think about when you decide to find a mentor to help you with your online art gallery. Why do you need a mentor? Do you want to work on weak areas of your life or do you just need someone to bounce ideas off of?

You should really focus in on the specific needs for your mentor search. Many of us use multiple mentors - each one with a specific area they work with us on. It is very difficult to find a generalist mentor who will help you with all of your business and personal needs, so you should focus on the specific areas you want the mentor to work with you on. This will provide a much more fruitful relationship and allow you to look at areas in great depth.

Write down a list of the areas you want a mentor to work with you, these might include:

• Business strategy
• Sales and business development
• Coaching my employees
• Business expansion
• New artist development and art acquisition

All of these are areas that a mentor can help you with, and all of them you can work with a mentor at great depth to help grow your online art gallery.

Tap Your Network

Once you have created a list of what you need from a mentor, it's important to tap into your network to find one. People closest to you are often the ones who understand what you are looking for in a mentor and can help you find one.

If your personal network isn't well developed or you cannot find a mentor in your network, consider working through your local business development office or university to find a mentor. Many times these organizations have lists of people willing to volunteer their services and it may be an easy way for you to find a mentor for your Internet art gallery business.

Ask for Help

Sometimes, the easiest way to ask a mentor for help is to just come out and ask. A mentor/mentee relationship takes a considerable effort from both parties involved and the mentor should understand this up front. Explain to the mentor what help you need and ask if they can provide it in this type of relationship.

One of the things you should think about after you develop this relationship is how you can give back in the coming years. Is there a business owner you can help in a mentor/mentee relationship? We are all successful when you are willing to give back in the ways that have been given to you.