There’s an aphorism that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This advice could be a smart way to look at mentors, too.

A 2024 study from mentorcliQ found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, and the median profits for those with mentoring programs are more than twice as high as those without. In a 2020 survey by Vistage, 86% of CEOs credit mentors as a critical part of their career accomplishments.

While “get a mentor may be good advice,” mentorship is not one-size-fits-all, and it should never rest on one person’s shoulders, says Janice Omadeke, author of Mentorship Unlocked: The Science and Art of Setting Yourself Up for Success.

“Think of your mentors as a diverse set of resources meant to help you develop a holistic view of your career and improve your quality of life, each playing a specific role in guiding your life’s direction,” she says. “Having more than one mentor helps you avoid putting the pressure on one specific person to be everything for you throughout the journey of your career life span.”

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