I’m doing something this year I’ve never officially done. Be a mentor through an organization called Year Up (which I mentioned for the first time here).

Sure, I (think) I have helped lots of people informally over the years. But mentoring is a more serious endeavor, over an extended period of time. Not one in which you simply give someone 30 or 60 minutes of your time, then disappear for 3, 6, or 12 months until the next time you happen run across that person again.

Why am I mentoring?

I’ve had the good fortune to learning a lot, from a broad number of really amazing people over the years — and want to return the favor. I know how crucial having a great support network is to being successful, and that one person who believes in you can be the difference between powering through the inevitable lows, or not.

Which brings me to mentoring in real estate.

Particularly if you are an experienced agent with years of knowledge to share, are you mentoring someone in your brokerage (or at another brokerage)? Does your brokerage have a formal mentorship program? What do you enjoy most about the experience?