Having a business mentor (a.k.a. business mentors!) who is a few steps behind you in business is an invaluable asset when you're growing and establishing yourself as an entrepreneur. Because they've been where you're at (and have already made it big where you want to go) they can offer you priceless insights on what to do, what to avoid and the best way to actually hit your business targets. But not all business mentors are created equal, nor should they all be viewed the same. When selecting which business mentors to hire, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Here's a look at four key qualities that top business mentors have in common: They possess excellent business skills Even if they were picked solely because their name is attached to your enterprise, business mentors with exceptional business skills are an invaluable asset. If you don't already believe in the importance of business skills, then perhaps viewing business mentors as nouveau entrepreneurs may help change your mind. The best business mentors are truly skilled in business, and they are not afraid to tell you so. They can show you the ropes, teach you the ins-and-outs of running a business, and encourage you to apply your newly-acquired skills in every aspect of your operations. Be sure to find more details here! They have a genuine concern for you As a business owner, you need to have someone to bounce ideas off of and to hear out your suggestions for improvement. It is critical that you have a person to turn to if you find yourself losing track of what you're doing or if you find that you're drifting away from your initial goals. Because business mentors care about you, they will be there to point you in the right direction and keep you on track. Know more about this here! They are active in their community Even though you will spend time meeting with your business mentor on a one-on-one basis, they will still spend a lot of time socializing outside of the work place. Don't assume that your new business mentor will be just sitting around the office waiting for you to ask him or her to talk about your business plan. Instead, your mentor will be ready to jump into a conversation when you set the stage for it. This doesn't mean that they only interact with you in regard to business. Quite the contrary, business mentors are active participants in local events, church activities, and other worthwhile endeavors. They have the knowledge base to guide you As mentioned earlier, business mentors have gained a great deal of practical experience by being involved in just about every facet of running a business. This means that they are going to have a comprehensive understanding of what you need to know. The biggest challenge, though, is that they won't be able to pass on this knowledge as you will. Therefore, when you look for a mentor, make sure that they are willing to share what they have learned in a format that makes sense to you.Read more about business at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commerce.