Find A Mentor If You Want To Succeed In Life

“O.k….Have you brought your bio-data?”…..After exchanging initial pleasantries my ex-boss, who is my mentor and guide, asked me.

It was almost end of December 2009. My personal life was in complete mess and its impact had also shaken my professional life. I was looking for an escape from my challenges and since I had no control over what was happening in my personal life, I was looking for an escape route from the place and environment where I was working. Though nothing was working out as per my plan and it didn’t work as per my plan in the coming days as well on many fronts, but one thing I have always been good at….be ready to fight every fight which comes to your door and fight every fight to win......and this was my one of the best chance….

I pulled out my bio-data and put it in front of him.

“Could you run me through your bio-data please”…. He asked.

As someone gets the breath of fresh air after being choked near death and starts inhaling and exhaling air from mouth and nose very quickly, I started listing out all the numbers I had achieved….. But everything I said looked more like ranting rather than being proper elucidation of what I had achieved.

He listened patiently and allowed me finish….

After that, he asked, “Mukul, is this the way you answer this question in interviews as well?”

“Yes Sir”…..was my answer.

“Had it not been you, I would have thrown the resume in the dustbin after the conversation because it has nothing for me. You are talking more like a front line sales staff and not as a mid level manager which you are. ??You need to learn “why, what, how and to whom” of a job interview or for that matter any review meeting, presentation.” ….He replied. ??

He broke my words down and explained where all I went wrong. Then he guided me how I should answer the questions and how I should tell the story of my data. Though my personal problems were something which I had to address, he assuaged the emotions I was going through at my workplace.

I didn’t get the immediate escape from the workplace and work environment I was seeking at that moment, but I got everything which helped me crack subsequent interviews later.

You know why I have written this? What he did for me in that one hour or so helped me a lot not only in further job searches and interviews but in handling my personal life challenges as well. ?

You know what….

# I had someone who sat and heard me patiently when I needed the most.

# He assuaged my frayed nerves and disturbed emotions.

# He sowed the seeds of practicing detachment from actions and result.

# He spoke truth.

# He guided me and explained how things should be done.

# He kept a track of my progress and my well being.

You can control what is happening inside you but sometimes and for many, many a times it becomes difficult to synchronize what is happening inside and what is happening around, in the micro and macro environment.

That time you need a mentor, who can sit and hear you patiently, help you to control your emotions, speak truth to you, guide you to about how things should be done and have your back like a rock.

If you need to succeed in any field of your life, find a mentor…. It’s not easy, but it’s worth looking for. ??????????

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” — Bob Proctor