Overview
Have you ever tried to follow the advice of someone who’s successful and just find that it really isn’t working for you, no matter how hard you try? It’s not that their advice is bad, it’s just that it may not be an exact match for you, for your unique style, what you need in terms of motivation, your learning preferences, or how you like to take action.
Today, we are going to look at a ChatGPT prompt that can help you find a role model or mentor who aligns with your unique style so you can stop trying to fit yourself into strategies that don’t work for you, that don’t feel right, and start finding ones that actually work for you.
Why do we need a mentor or role model?
In the previous episode, we looked at how you could use ChatGPT to find your unique productivity hacks. ChatGPT walks you through a series of questions to ascertain your unique style—your learning style, what you like when you’re in a flow state, what makes you feel like you’re achieving things, and how you’re motivated. ChatGPT works through all of these questions to then, at the end, recommend specific strategies to help you feel like you can gain momentum and feel productive in what you’re trying to achieve, whatever that may be.
It got me thinking about how everyone’s style is so different and how important that is when considering a role model or mentor. That person may have achieved what you want to achieve, but maybe their recommendations and steps feel too rigid or structured, and you like a more flexible approach. Or perhaps you find a flexible approach way too chaotic and would prefer a structured approach.
I think about this with respect to one of the mentors I have now. She is absolutely incredible in her field, a leading expert, and she loves structure, checklists, and roadmaps. This is amazing for someone who loves that structure, but for me, I often feel like I’m doing it all wrong because I find it really hard to follow checklists and to-do lists in a specific order. I want to go in the order that makes sense to me. Often, it feels like I’m doing it wrong. Ideally, we want to find someone whose structure and approach align with the way that we want to work.
So why do we need a mentor or a role model? A great way to explore this is by thinking about the stages of behavior change. Whenever we are trying to achieve a new goal or change our habits—cutting something out, creating new habits—it’s all about changing our behavior. There are several models of behavior change, but one I really like is the trans-theoretical model of behavior change, sometimes called the stages of behavior change.
Stage of behavior change for forming habits
There are six stages within this framework:
Pre-contemplation – We’re not yet thinking about change.
Contemplation – We realize we might want to change.
Preparation – We’ve decided to change and are planning how.
Action – We start taking the necessary steps.
Maintenance – We maintain our new habits.
Relapse – A natural part of the cycle where we might fall back.
The stages where role models are most crucial are the contemplation and preparation phases. These are the phases where we are gathering evidence for our brain to prove that what we are trying to achieve is possible. When we see someone similar to us achieve something, our brain recognizes that possibility for ourselves.
Our mirror neurons play a big role here. If we watch someone doing something we want to do, or hear them talking through how they did it, our neurons virtually play out the patterns of activation needed to follow through. This means that by the time we step into the action phase, our brain has already gone through the motions virtually.
If we have a mentor or role model who shares similarities with us—how they think, how they work—it’s even more powerful because our brain sees them as a reflection of ourselves. That adds more evidence to our “evidence budget,” making the goal feel even more achievable.
Now, let’s take a look at the ChatGPT prompt that can help you find the right mentor:
Prompt to Help the User Find Aligned Mentors or Role Models
“ChatGPT, I want you to take on the role of a world-class mentor matchmaker. Your job is to help the user find mentors or role models whose working methods align with their natural tendencies, preferences, and goals. Follow these steps:
1. Clarify the User’s Goal:
- Ask the user:
What is your primary goal or aspiration right now? What would you like to achieve in the next 6 to 12 months? (Be as specific as possible.)
2. Align the Goal with Natural Tendencies:
- Ask the user:
Based on your natural working style, do you prefer flexibility or structure in your approach to this goal? Are you someone who thrives on autonomy, or do you feel more motivated with a structured roadmap? How much external accountability or guidance would you find helpful to reach your goal?
3. Define Preferred Methodology:
- Ask the user:
Would you prefer a mentor who follows a more flexible, spontaneous approach, or someone who has a rigorous, detailed plan?
Are you looking for someone who emphasizes personal growth and adaptability, or someone who focuses on efficiency, productivity, and results?
Would you prefer a mentor who focuses on big-picture vision and growth, or one who’s more about step-by-step processes and specific strategies?
4. Personalizing the Search:
- Ask the user:
Are there any specific industries or fields you are interested in for mentorship (e.g., business, personal development, creative arts, etc.)?
Do you want a mentor who shares your personal values or one who may challenge you in ways that help you grow?
Once the user has provided their responses, use the following information to make personalized mentor recommendations:
Mentor Suggestions: Provide a list of potential mentors or role models who align with the user’s natural tendencies and their goals. If possible, include names of notable individuals, books, podcasts, or communities where these types of mentors can be found.
Next Steps: Offer advice on how to approach or reach out to these mentors, whether through social media, courses, books, or other platforms.”
So, what’s your goal? How are you going to use this prompt to find a mentor that aligns with you? You don’t necessarily have to follow someone’s approach step-by-step, but finding people who have done what you want to do provides evidence that it’s possible. Once you stack up enough evidence, your brain will decide, “Okay, let’s go!”
Having that evidence will help you move into the action phase. By discovering your natural tendencies, you can find the right mentors and role models to help you along the way. And if you can get into the same room with them—whether virtually or in real life—that’s even more proof for your brain.
Good luck! Let me know how you get on. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like and subscribe, and I’ll see you in the next one!