Early in my internet marketing journey, I wrote about the importance of finding a guru. I used that word casually back then. Today I would call them mentors, because the word guru has picked up some well-deserved baggage in the online business world. But the underlying idea is as valid now as it was in 2008: having someone more experienced to guide you dramatically accelerates your progress.
Why Mentorship Matters for Online Business
When you are building a business part-time, your most limited resource is not money. It is time. You have a few hours each night after the day job and family responsibilities are handled. Spending those hours on the wrong strategy or rebuilding something you did incorrectly is devastating to your momentum.
A good mentor helps you avoid the most expensive mistakes. Not because they have secret knowledge, but because they have already made those mistakes themselves. They can look at your situation and immediately identify the three things you should stop doing and the one thing you should focus on instead. That kind of clarity is worth more than any course or ebook.
My own fastest periods of growth always coincided with having a mentor or a small group of peers slightly ahead of me. The information was never the bottleneck. It was knowing which information to act on and which to ignore.
How to Identify a Good Mentor
The online business space is full of people who call themselves mentors, coaches, and experts. Here is how to separate the genuine ones from the pretenders.
They have built what they teach. A legitimate mentor has a track record of actually doing the thing they claim to teach. Ask to see their own projects. A mentor who teaches affiliate marketing should be able to show you their affiliate sites. A mentor who teaches podcasting should have a podcast with real listeners.
They ask more questions than they answer. Good mentors do not hand you a one-size-fits-all playbook. They listen to your specific situation, ask probing questions, and tailor their guidance accordingly. If a mentor gives you the same advice they give everyone else, they are not mentoring. They are selling a course.
They are accessible. A mentor who disappears after collecting payment is not a mentor. Look for people who respond to messages, show up for scheduled calls, and are genuinely invested in your progress. Accessibility does not mean 24/7 availability, but it does mean consistent and reliable communication.
They celebrate your wins without jealousy. The best mentors are genuinely happy when you succeed, even when your success eventually surpasses theirs. Be cautious of anyone who seems threatened by your progress or who subtly undermines your confidence to maintain the power dynamic.
Where to Find Mentors in 2026
Masterminds and peer groups. Small groups of 4 to 8 entrepreneurs at similar stages who meet regularly to share progress, challenges, and advice. These can be formal paid groups or informal arrangements with people you meet online. Some of my best mentoring relationships started in mastermind groups.
Online communities. Active communities on platforms like Circle, Discord, or specialized forums often include experienced practitioners who enjoy helping others. Contribute generously to these communities and mentoring relationships develop naturally.
Podcasts and content creators. Many successful online business owners are approachable through their content. Listen to their shows, engage with their content, and reach out with specific, thoughtful questions. You would be surprised how many established entrepreneurs are willing to help someone who demonstrates initiative and respect for their time.
Paid coaching. There is nothing wrong with paying for mentorship, as long as you have vetted the mentor using the criteria above. Structured coaching programs with clear deliverables, regular access, and defined outcomes can be an excellent investment.
Be a Good Student
Finding a mentor is only half the equation. You also need to be someone worth mentoring. That means doing the work between conversations, coming prepared with specific questions, implementing feedback before asking for more, and being honest about where you are struggling. Mentors invest their time in people who take action. Be that person.
Wait a minute here, Mark… …so if a guy has 4000 posts on an internet marketing forum, he may NOT be a true guru? LOL
good stuff as always, and I agree that finding a guru or ‘mentor’ is very important. I, like you, trust Garry Conn. He has never steered me wrong.
–AL
“Guru” is a funny term. It seems to be tossed around a lot these days. There are a lot of people who are as successful as guru’s but they aren’t out there – they’re quietly doing their thing and nobody knows about them.
It’s definately worth taking the time to look at their history and spread around the internet, particularly in internet marketing. Whether or not yo ufind a ‘guru’, you’re sure to be able to make a much better-informed decision than if you simply performed a search or followed ads. Many thanks for the nice post with helpful tips in finding an active mentor that more likely to be trustworthy.