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8. Cultivate a Mentor

You've seen it before: One bad manager can stifle creativity, siphon energy, and poison relationships. And you'll have times when you'll ask if you're causing more harm than good. When this happens, reach out to someone who's already gone through that. Find a mentor who can pick you back up and put your challenges in perspective. Stay in touch regularly and take his or her advice, however critical, to heart. Chances are, a mentor will be flattered by your trust. Eventually he may be the one who introduces you to the right people and champions your cause.

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