Who Are Your Mentors?
The mentor plays an archetypal role in our society’s popular culture. How can we hear the word without conjuring up visions of Obi-Wan Kenobi (or better yet, Yoda) from the Star Wars movies, or perhaps Keye Luke as the blind Master Po from the old Kung Fu TV show? I can even remember watching Saturday morning episodes of Shazam!, featuring Billy Batson touring the U.S. in a van with his mentor, whose name was, well, Mentor. These figures, both imagined and real (parents, teachers, and other various wise elders), lecture, encourage, and generally introduce the wide world to us so we can live in it happily and productively.
Now that we’re all grown up (no wisecracks, please), we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we have to be self-sufficient and all-knowing, at least when it comes to running our business lives. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The older I get, the more painfully aware I become of the vast universe of things I don’t know. Chances are that you’ve felt that same disconcerting feeling from time to time. The answer? Consult a mentor! Many of us have examples of success stories in our chosen field, people we look up to and whose advice we eagerly accept. As a copywriter, I learned a great deal from super-copywriter Robert Bly’s book Getting Started as a Freelance Writer
I’m sure you know who the gurus are in your own field of endeavor. Read their books! Follow their blogs! Learn everything you can from these people, because they undoubtedly made every mistake there is to make on their way to the top. Following their advice could save you years of painful, expensive goofs. For everyday first-hand guidance, consult a business coach who can point out precisely what you’re doing right and what you could do better. Sometimes a little objective advice or constructive criticism can make all the difference in the world.
By the same token, once you become good at something, it’s very rewarding to give back by mentoring someone else. I’m always happy to answer questions from beginning copywriters, especially freelancers who face a whole world of challenges beyond the writing itself. I’m also a mentor for new members of my BNI chapter who need help learning how to give and receive business referrals. Givers gain, as they say.
So don’t be disappointed if your next mentor doesn’t look like an ancient Kung Fu master or a wizened green Muppet. And don’t discount yourself as a mentor to others simply because you lack a grey beard and an English accent. Anyone with valuable knowledge and experience to share can potentially change lives for the better, be it through books, coaching sessions, or just by example. The world’s wisdom is out there. Grab it!
