If you want to get in with a guru, you’ve got to be the kind of person they’d like to be in contact with.

There are at least a few gurus out there who are interested in helping others succeed, and will help without needing to profit from the deal themselves. But even with them, you need to be a desirable contact. Why? Because there are a million other people out there who’d like their help too, and they don’t have time to give every one the attention they want.

How do you think they decide who to work with? First come first serve? The squeaky wheel gets the grease? I doubt it. If I were in their position, the two factors I’d consider are:

1. Does associating with this person invigorate me or drain me? (If working with someone decreases the quality of my life and the energy I have for the people who are central to my life, I’ll work with someone else).
2. Does this person show enough potential to be worth my time, considering that the time I spend on this person can’t be spent on anyone else? (If I can do more good somewhere else, I’m goin’ somewhere else).

So how do you prove that you’re a prime protoge? Let me just brainstorm a little:

• Prove by your actions that you’re willing to act — that you’re not just a moocher who’s going to expect the guru to do all the work for you.
• Create something of value so that you’ll have something to offer the guru. Sure, you’re probably going to get more of of the relationship than them, at least initially, and they’d probably fine with that. But you’re going to have a much easier time distinguishing yourself from the crowd if you’v got something to offer, and something to show that you have at least some track history of creating value.
• Better yet, do something for them. Prove from before the get-go that you’re willing to give to them. The (very limited) personal contact I’ve had with Shawn Casey and Michael Cheney came as a result of me diagnosing technical problems with their mailing list and website respectively. As I mentioned the other day, and as was confirmed by Brent Coppieters’ comment on my “Befriend their friends” post, promoting their products is also a good approach.
• Be pleasant and respectful in your communications. I kinda doubt that many gurus would respond favorably to an “I’m gonna be the next Rich Jerk, and I want to climb over your carcase to get there” approach.
• On the other hand, you’re probably better off not being a suck-up. Show a little self confidence and self respect.
• Don’t just say “guru, help me please” and then sit there doing nothing till they arrive. What if they never come? You’d better be working on making your living!