Benjamin Franklin once said, "there are two ways to acquire wisdom; you can either buy it or borrow it."

This is the essence of the mentor-protégé relationship. By going to people who are ahead of you in the personal or professional arena and opening yourself to their input, advice, and guidance, you can save yourself the many months (maybe even years) it would take and the thousands of dollars it would cost to learn what you need to learn all by yourself.

There are two vital qualities to look for in a mentor—character and competence.

Character is by far the most important. Look for a person who has high degrees of intelligence, integrity, judgment and wisdom. The more you associate with men and women who are advanced in the development of their character, the more you will tend to pattern them and to become like them.

The second quality you look for in a mentor is competence. This means that the person is extremely good at what he or she does. A good mentor in your career is one who has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to move ahead far more rapidly than his or her peers.

In addition for a good mentor-protégé relationship, you must be wide open to the influence and instruction of the other person, and at the same time, the mentor must be genuinely concerned about your well-being and your ultimate success. Your ability to choose your mentors can be a crucial step toward achievement in all areas of your life. So here are twelve steps for building successful mentor-protégé relationships:

1. Set clear goals for yourself in every area of your life. Know exactly what you want to accomplish before you start thinking of the type of person who can help you accomplish it.

2. Determine the things you will have to do in order to achieve your goals, the obstacles you will have to overcome, and the roadblocks you will have to surmount.

3. Identify the areas of knowledge, skill, and expertise you will have to acquire in order to overcome the obstacles existing between you and your goals.

4. Look around for the most successful people in the areas in which you will need the most help.

5. Join the clubs, organizations, and business associations these people belong to.

6. Become actively involved and volunteer for responsibilities in the organizations you join. This will bring you to the attention of the people you want to meet faster than anything else.

7. Work, study, and practice continually to get better and better at what you do. The very best mentors are interested in helping you only if they feel it is going to be worth their time.

8. When you find a potential mentor, don't make a nuisance of yourself. Instead, ask for 10 minutes of his or her time, in-person, in private. Nothing more. Remember, most potential mentors are busy people.

9. When you meet with a potential mentor, ask for an answer to a specific question, for a specific book or audio program recommendation, or for a specific idea that has been helpful to him or her in the past.

10. After the initial meeting, send a thank-you note expressing your gratitude and appreciation for his or her time and guidance. Mention that you hope to meet again if you have another question.

11. Each month, drop your mentor a short note telling him or her about what you are doing and how you are progressing. Nothing makes a mentor more open to helping you further than your making it clear that the previous help has done you some good.

12. Arrange to meet with your mentor again, perhaps on a monthly basis, or even more often if you work closely together.

Successful people are very open to helping other people who want to be successful. This is especially true if they know you are willing to be a mentor to others who are younger and less experienced than you. The more open you are to helping others up the ladder of success, the more open others will be to helping you.

About the Author:

Brian Tracy is a legend in the fields of management, leadership, and sales. He has produced more than 350 audio/video programs and has written over 42 books, including his just-released book "The Way To Wealth." Check out Brian Tracy University of Sales and Entrepreneurship at www.briantracyu.com. Brian can be reached at (858) 481-2977 or www.briantracy.com.