Regardless if you're in corporate America, an entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, one needs a mentor to succeed. A mentor is someone that can provide guidance, hold you accountable, or just help you become a better person. And while one person can do all these things, there's nothing wrong with having a variety of mentors that serve specific purposes.

As a business entrepreneur, I've got multiple mentors that serve different purposes.

Mentor 1 helps me process and organize my ideas and thoughts, while giving me additional ideas. She helps keep me focused on what's important, while incorporating my ideas slowly and efficiently. (The worst thing is to have so many ideas floating around in our head [or on paper] and not have a plan for what to do with them.)

Mentor 2 is an industry colleague that helps me grow my brand within the industry. While I'm only one part of this industry, she has showed me how I can learn A LOT from my fellow colleagues that can help me make connections, market my business, and slowly become the expert within my field.

Mentor 3 is someone that essentially calls me on my s@*t and puts me in my place when needed. (I'm normally the person that call people on their s@*t, so it's nice to have someone do it to me. Plus, it keeps me grounded.) She holds me accountable for my actions and doesn't allow me to make any excuses for my shortcomings.

Regardless of the type of mentor you choose to have, I highly recommend having someone that can guide you through the ups and downs of business. Whether you're trying to make a name for yourself in your industry or you're trying to move up the corporate ladder, a mentor can help you succeed with your goals.