05 Sep
Can’t Find a Mentor?
I remember sending about a hundred or so emails in my search for a mentor, and then I looked in the mirror and said to myself, “Wait… maybe I’m the reason no one wanted to mentor me?”
I know, it’s REALLY hard to hear things when someone point’s it back to you and taking 100% responsibility for why things are the way they are is hard to swallow (when things aren’t good).
However, I also feel as if we all need to step up and take some personal responsibility for where we are at in our own lives. I know it may not be the most popular thing to say, but what’s right AND what is popular are sometimes two different things. Aren’t they?
Note – This is part of a series of blogs about the importance of a mentor.
Jared,
Knowing that personal responsibility is the key is a very good first step. The next step is this: Choose very carefully whom you ask to be your mentor and be specific about what it is you would like that person to work on with you. Mentoring another is an awesome responsibility. For busy and accomplished people it often looms like something they do not have time to add to what is already on their plate. A specific request with a beginning and ending date make it much easier for a person to accept your request.
Personal experience? Some of the greatest damage I've caused to myself has been the result of choices based on "popular" rather than "right". It's a hard lesson that takes some learning!
Well said Susan. I think far too many people underestimate the power of a TRUE mentor.
Coady, I know what you mean. Sometimes the most UNpopular thing one does gets the best results (it's also one of the hardest things to do).
*Jared
"When the student is ready, the mentor appears…" When we choose we have to acknowledge where our needs are (as in what we perceive as weaknesses or areas of growth.) Sometimes the wrong mentor is a necessary lesson we need to learn for our growth.