The Value of Great Mentors

Real Estate introduced me to a somewhat foreign concept before arriving “in this world” in 2014 – the world of mentorship. I often hear fellow brokers, developers, and real estate investors refer to their mentors and how they were or still are instrumental in their success. 

One common thread, regardless, of who I speak to is the impact the mentor has had on the mentees’ career path, and life path and the reverence they share for them.  

When I look back on my past, I realize I’ve had many mentors, but I did not realize that was the “title” they held at the time.  As a Gen Xer, one of my most influential mentors was no doubt the one and only “Queen of daytime” – Oprah Winfrey. Oprah shaped my views on life and fuelled my ambition to succeed and my deep drive to give back. When VCRs and physical cassettes were the only way to capture a live TV show, I relished binge-watching the week’s recordings – way before Netflix arrived on the scene to coin the term.               

Then came the time I will describe as the “paid” mentors era. My first was again “the Best of the Best”: Tony Robbins – at the time known as Anthony Robbins. His CD and DVD collections still grace my library to this day. As sacred mementoes, I have yet to part with them even though I no longer own any device to watch or listen to them, not to mention that the Internet, Podcasts, Audio Books and YouTube have completely revolutionized the media industry and the need to store all this “stuff”! Those CDs accompanied countless road trips and car rides – now we have Spotify and SiriusXM!

Then came more greats: Bob Proctor, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Robin Sharma, and Joe Dispenza to name just a few. I paid to see them, follow them, read their books, study their programs – all of which shaped my mind (and continue to do so) to be the best version of myself.     

Last month, I finally met another great mentor of mine: the best real estate broker I know (and thousands would concur – maybe millions!) – Ryan Serhant. Some know him from Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing which aired for 10 years. Others from his wacky and outrageous YouTube vlogging but many of us privileged ones know him from being members of his extraordinary community at Sell it Like Serhant. a.k.a. SLS or SerFam. As a young broker at the time, I joined the community when it first launched in 2019 to surround myself with like-minded individuals to accelerate my learning curve and elevate my results. I never thought I would find a mentor who would shape my business as significantly as Ryan would. I could go on and on about WHAT I’ve learned but that’s not the purpose of this blog. Rather I want to emphasize WHO he (and all previous mentors) taught me to be and THAT is significantly different! 

I could summarize in 3 words what all these mentors have taught me: gratitude, resilience, and discipline. 

GRATITUDE is the antidote to EVERYTHING. Regardless of our circumstances, challenges, struggles, and hurdles, I’ve discovered that gratitude is the only way through it with grace.  The earlier we learn this lesson; the easier life gets! Hint hint to my challenging years in my 30’s and early 40’s…

Once we have gratitude, RESILIENCE will SAVE THE DAY. No great leader, successful entrepreneur, or notable individual can or has reached their potential without resilience. At the end of a hard day, with bad news and difficult conversations, I rest my head on my pillow feeling proud when I showed resilience – regardless of whether the situation will change or not.  And that’s a great day!

And finally, the key to the castle is DISCIPLINE – my hardest lesson to date. I am a spontaneous, passionate, energetic and mostly kinaesthetic person. I act according to how I feel – that often serves me and often does not. One of my clients is an Olympic athlete and I often think of him as my example of discipline to motivate and inspire me. “What would he do?” I ask myself, and then do it! 

For March I chose the topic of mentorship for many reasons: 

1. I spontaneously jumped on a plane last month to attend Ryan Serhant’s 3rd book launch – Brand It Like Serhant at Barnes & Nobles in NYC because meeting a mentor a person is such a great source of motivation and inspiration. And I wanted to say THANK YOU in person. During COVID, Ryan was a pivotal leader for his member community and generously donated to my fundraising initiatives at the time. Check it out – it was a great surprise!
2. I will be starting my first 12-month mentee relationship with a soon-to-determined mentor from CREW M – a networking group geared towards elevating women in Commercial Real Estate. I will now officially have my own mentor in real estate. No doubt my career path would have been different if I had had a mentor when I first started and even after almost a decade in the business, I feel it’s never too late to learn more – hence jumping on the opportunity at CREW M.
3. Last but not least, I begin my volunteer relationship as a mentor to a kind and loving 18-year-old young lady in the foster care system. Close to a year ago, I began discussions with Batshaw Youth Protection Services to create a mentorship plan for their youth. This month I begin my work with my first mentee, and I could not be more excited to help her and give back all the knowledge I have received over the years! And in many ways wished I had at her age.

Contrary to many of my fellow industry colleagues I referenced at the beginning of this blog I never truly had a mentor when I started in real estate. Many have helped and guided me (and still do to which I am always grateful) but not the way others describe their mentor as “taking them under their wing”.  

In 2023, as the real estate market was shifting, and business was increasingly challenging for many I was inspired to make a difference. At AZ, I created the program I wished existed for me when I started. I launched my very first business mentorship program for Commercial Real Estate brokers to help them navigate the first steps of the CRE world. Fun fact: my current mentees are women – and that too gets me very excited for them AND for our industry! 

So now that I’ve hopefully inspired you about mentorship, selecting the right mentor is essential for a fulfilling and effective mentorship relationship. Consider the following factors when choosing a mentor:

• Expertise and Experience: Look for mentors who have relevant experience and expertise in your field or area of interest. They should possess the knowledge and skills you aspire to acquire.
• Compatibility: Seek mentors who share similar values, goals, and communication styles. A good mentor-mentee match is based on mutual respect, trust, and understanding.
• Availability and Commitment: Choose mentors who are willing to invest time and effort in mentoring you. They should be accessible, responsive, and dedicated to your growth and development.
• Diversity and Inclusivity: Embrace diversity in mentorship by seeking mentors from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. A diverse mentor network enriches learning and fosters innovation.

Whether it was intentional or not, I realize that all my mentors had the following in common which I consider to be important qualities to look for in a mentor:

• Empathy and Listening Skills: A good mentor listens attentively, shows empathy, and understands mentees’ needs, challenges, and aspirations.
• Integrity and Authenticity: Choose mentors who demonstrate integrity, authenticity, and transparency in their actions and interactions – one of my signature values!
• Growth Mindset: Seek mentors who have a growth mindset, embrace continuous learning, and are open to new ideas and perspectives – Ryan embodies that for me!
• Empowerment and Support: Look for mentors who empower and support you as a mentee, fostering independence, confidence, and resilience.
• Role Model: Select mentors who serve as positive role models, embodying qualities and values you admire and aspire to emulate – an example in your community.

In summary, mentorship is a vital component of personal and professional development, providing guidance, support, and valuable insights to both mentors and mentees. Choosing a good mentor is essential for fostering a productive mentorship relationship. Mentors bring guidance, advice, support, networking opportunities, and wisdom to mentees. In turn, mentees contribute fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and reciprocal learning to the mentorship dynamic. 

Overall, mentorship is a collaborative partnership that empowers individuals to navigate challenges, achieve goals, and unlock their full potential. I am truly grateful for those who have shaped my path, and I hope to do the same for the ones I shape in return.  

My intention in writing this blog and sharing these stories is to inspire our readers to find ways where you can share your knowledge, your greatness and yourself with others around you, who could benefit from your experience and wisdom. Mentorship changes lives. Let’s all be great mentors in our way for the next generation! 

If you’d like to know more about mentorship for commercial real estate, feel free to visit our website at: https://alinezafirian.com/services/mentorship/ 

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