During the Renaissance, it was common for an artist or craftsman to apprentice under a master for a period of seven years before she set out on her own as a journeyman, plying her trade. The Renaissance may be over, but it is easier now than ever to become an apprentice to one of the many masters of whatever craft you are pursuing. Most of them are just an email, blog post, podcast, or book away.

It is unlikely that you will be able to spend seven years in an office or workshop with your favorite writer, musician, or thought-leader while attempting to learn at his or her feet, but you don’t have to do that anymore. I will illustrate the point with my own journey:

I have had a number of pseudo-mentors over the years. The first that I remember was Mark Verstegen; at a time in my life when I was passionately consuming all the knowledge on athletic performance and nutrition I possibly could, he was the paragon to which I upheld others in the field. He was a scientist, trying to find new and better ways to improve his craft, a writer, a coach, a teacher…I consumed every video I could find, every article he wrote, every book he authored.

The next mentor that truly stands out to me is Dave Ramsey. By age 26, my wife and I had accumulated close to $90,000 in combined consumer and student debt. We were drowning and didn’t know it. At some point, I had this middle-aged hillbilly (his words) yelling at me over the radio, telling me how stupid I had been and what I needed to do to fix it all. It was just what I needed. Not only that, but due to his recommendations, I started consuming leadership and business material by great leaders in those fields. Dave’s book-lists and constant radio show guests continued to fuel my passion for learning by giving me an unending education.

Also thanks to Dave, I discovered Dan Miller, who has become (again from afar) my life and career coach. Even now, he is teaching me how to live a fuller life; to set goals and achieve them; to redefine what work can be.

Dan led me to Seth Godin. My latest and most influential mentor, Seth is the reason that I write this blog post everyday. His constant assurance that we are all artists, regardless of the medium, as well as his passionate defense of realistic education, has put me on the path to writing each and every day about how others can continually improve themselves. He reminded me of my passion for education, real education that makes a difference in people’s lives and in our culture. I have read nearly every book he has ever written, hundreds of his blog posts, listened to his podcasts twice through already, and am saving up the money to sign up for some of his Akimbo workshops as well.

These people have all been mentors to me, even though I have never met a single one of them in person. The internet makes apprenticeship easier than ever. Being an apprentice to someone is simply observing what they do, consuming any and all lessons they offer, imitating them, and synthesizing the information until it becomes your own.

Sometimes it’s free; at the most it only costs what you have to pay for a book. Find someone that inspires you, who sets your heart and mind alight. Read, watch, and listen to everything you can as often as you need until you learn it. This is the essence of an apprenticeship. It worked for Leonardo and Michelangelo; it will work for you, too.

Also – make sure you thank them for their impact. Let them know that you were a good student.