[Flash] Micro-Mentoring with Newspaper Clippings

My dad was never one to sit down and give advice. We never had father-daughter talks. Perhaps he didn't feel confident or competent doing so. This month marks 18 years since he passed away, so I can't ask him...

But my dad was a prolific micro-mentor.

Micro-mentoring: sharing wisdom in atomically small moments.

My dad read four different newspapers each day, intentionally seeking a variety of perspectives. Always in print. Never online.

Invariably while reading these papers, he would find an article that he thought would contribute to my current adventure. When I enrolled in law school, he noticed articles on law firms. When I moved to San Francisco, he looked for articles about the golden state. When I started my own business, he found articles on entrepreneurship.?

He would clip the article, write at the top, "Ann - FYI. Dad," and then mail it to me. Typically, I'd receive a newspaper clipping once a week.

Every time my dad sent an article, he thought of me, encouraged my journey, shared a fresh idea or perspective, and sent me a resource.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to maturity, I didn't always recognize or appreciate it. But he was undeterred, as all great mentors are.

Today, I realize the value of micro-mentoring and often emulate his practice.

To start micro-mentoring:

• Identify someone you want to contribute to, like a peer, employee, or mentee.
• Reflect on their current situation, transition, or passion project.
• Look for wisdom to share?in the form of books, articles, videos, social media posts, connections, or even cartoons or memes.
• Use the shared piece as a springboard for a conversation or exploration.

Interestingly when my mom started dating again, she met (and married) Allan, also versed in micro-mentoring. Today, Allan regularly sends me links to articles (but in this decade, I receive them via text).

And now I can recognize the effort, appreciate the contribution, and deliberately leverage the nuggets of wisdom.

? 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com