Answer:
a goal in mind.
without destination no clear route.
but that doesn't mean that you couldn't blindly start anywhere, it's just the straight forward way.
even a mentor is typically an expert in his field, not necessarily an expert of everything you could later want. if you can just talk and reflect with your 'mentor's, the part where you get strategic tips and insights could fall off the train.
the database could be enormous if you don't know what to look for
practical example:
I want to loose weight.
I maybe should set a clearer goal with a number, but I got a goal for now.
now I can build a database on what I eat and how often I'll use my body to burn calories and with what
I could also collect wich sports brought me fun (this lists is actually important for me, even tough it's not written down).
and I can look for someone who alrdy reached a similar goal and can give me some hints. ideally someone I'll trust on his or her advice
but a database on my financial decisions or a coach for getting besser at housekeeping just wouldn't fit my true needs and wants.
so yeah, set the goal first, then look on how you get there
edit:
if you set multiple goals, you may need multiple databases (lists, charts) know your development, and even multiple persons to talk to. but 3 fitness coaches and a list what flowers you like are interesting, but will get you nowhere if you don't know where you wanna go. a meta-goal can be finding out exactly that, and formalize getting to know new and different things, embrace the randomness a given ammount of time each day or week, and write down you key insights and findings, or what you liked, disliked, felt. in this phase you either could use a counselor or many persons. but it's important that you set a goal wich got a clear yes/no answer if you ask yourself if you reached it yet, or if you got closer. "being a better person" or a "more efficient company" is just to diffuse for example. define what the goal means to you in clear words.
