Laws of Success Every Mentee Should Know

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“More important than doing things right is doing the right thing."

Peter Drucker

Management Consultant, Educator, Author

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Mentorship can be a game-changer for personal and professional growth. A great mentor opens doors, provides wisdom, and helps you navigate challenges you might not see on your own. But here’s the truth that many people overlook: success in mentoring isn’t just about the mentor. It’s equally about the mentee.

If you’re a mentee stepping into a new mentoring relationship, your role is more than just showing up. You carry responsibilities that determine how much you gain from the experience. Over the years, I’ve seen a clear pattern in what separates average mentees from outstanding ones. It comes down to a few timeless principles, known as the Laws of Success for Mentees.

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Here are five Laws of Success that every mentee should know, practice, and live out.

1. Keep a Great Attitude—Always

Your attitude is the single most observed thing about you. Challenges will come, feedback may sting, and not every mentoring session will end with a breakthrough. But if you consistently bring a positive, curious, and open mindset, you’ll maintain a strong and productive relationship.

A great attitude means showing gratitude for your mentor’s time, staying open to constructive criticism, and seeing challenges as opportunities to grow. Even when you’re under pressure or juggling competing demands, showing up with energy and respect goes a long way.

2. Always Take Notes

One of the simplest yet most powerful habits a mentee can build is taking notes. Writing things down, or adding them to your phone or tablet, isn’t just about remembering what your mentor said—it’s about showing respect for their time and advice.

When you take notes, you signal that you’re serious. Your mentor sees that you’re capturing ideas to reflect on later, not letting their words pass by casually. Beyond that, notes provide a reference point to track progress, identify patterns, and measure growth over time.

Try ending each session by reviewing your notes and highlighting one or two action steps. Then, at your next meeting, bring those notes back into the conversation. It shows accountability and reinforces to your mentor that you value their investment in you.

3. Hang Around the Right People

One of the most significant factors in your success as a mentee is the company you keep. The people you spend time with will either pull you forward or hold you back. If you surround yourself with negative, unmotivated, or toxic influences, it becomes harder to stay focused on your goals. But if you intentionally build a circle of positive, growth-minded people, you’ll find encouragement, fresh ideas, and accountability.

This applies to mentoring, too. Seek out colleagues, peers, and networks that align with your mentor’s guidance. Hanging around the right people reinforces the lessons you’re learning and keeps you in environments that push you toward growth.

It doesn’t mean you have to cut ties with everyone who doesn’t share your drive—but it does mean being thoughtful about who you allow to influence your mindset and decisions. The right people will challenge you, support you, and celebrate your wins along the way.

4. Learn to Manage Your Time

As a mentor, it’s frustrating to work with a mentee who can’t follow through. That often comes down to poor time management. If you can’t deliver on action items, show up on time, or balance your commitments, the relationship suffers.

Effective time management shows discipline and respect. Utilize tools such as calendars, reminders, or project trackers to stay on top of tasks. Break large goals into smaller milestones so you can report progress in each session.

Time management also means being prepared. Don’t walk into a meeting without a clear agenda or updates from your last session. A mentor will always give more to a mentee who is prepared and intentional.

5. Be Honest

This may be the most important law of all. A mentoring relationship thrives on trust. If you’re not honest—with your mentor and with yourself—the entire process stalls.

Honesty means admitting when you don’t understand something, when you’ve fallen short, or when you’re facing personal or professional struggles that affect your progress. Mentors don’t expect perfection; they expect authenticity.

Equally, be honest about your goals. If your needs shift, communicate that. If feedback feels unclear, ask questions. The more transparent you are, the better your mentor can guide you.

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Bringing It All Together

Being a mentee isn’t passive—it’s active, intentional, and often challenging. By living out these laws of success—keeping a great attitude, taking notes, hanging around the right people, managing your time, and being honest—you’ll get the most from your mentoring journey.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Our online course, How to Be a Great Mentee, walks you step-by-step through these principles and much more, so you can get the most out of your mentoring relationship.

Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways to accelerate your development. But the real key lies in how you, the mentee, show up. Follow these laws of success, and you’ll not only build a strong relationship with your mentor—you’ll build a stronger version of yourself.

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Special thanks to Bert Thornton, whose book “Find an Old Gorilla” helped inform this article.

Thornton, Bert (2015). Navigating the Path Using the Basic Laws of Success. Find an Old Gorilla, Pathways through the Jungle of Business and Life (pp. 20-33). Thornton House Publishing