This is the third in a series on how to find a mentor. Yesterday, my own son, Seth, in Cambodia with the World Race, wrote this comment: "I decided about a month ago to look for a mentor and have been praying off and on about it."

And that thrills me, because as much as I want to do it for him, this is something he's going to have to do for himself. And all of us, if we're looking for a mentor, are going to need to take this kind of initiative.

However, I can do this - I can share a few lessons I learned about finding a mentor. Here are five:

1. The would-be protégé must be intentional. He must shrug off failure and must persevere. I was turned down four times by important men before finally tracking down someone willing to invest in me.

1. You may begin by looking at the prospective mentor's message, but check out their life. Do they have a track record of disciple making? What do you know about the fruit in their life?

1. You need to like each other. Your mentor should enjoy hanging out with you. This can't be mechanical - it needs to be organic. You should laugh together.

1. Look for venues to do stuff together and come prepared. It takes work to grow and to help someone grow. Since your mentor is giving you their time and energy, take the time to make it easy for them.

1. Give your mentor a return on his/her investment. Show them their time is well spent. Report on how you've applied what they've suggested. Thank them for their feedback.