Have You Thanked a Mentor Lately?

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. This has been a year unlike any other, and I think we’re all thankful that there is the prospect of light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.

For many of us Thanksgiving also marks the “year end crunch.” Yearly and quarterly numbers have to be met. Business plans completed. Budgets finalized. Staffing plans approved. Next year’s kick off reconfigured as a virtual event. New hires onboarded so they can hit the ground running in 2021. Add in the rush of holiday preparations, with endless to do lists, competing priorities, and oh, by the way, getting your regular work done as well. It’s so easy to become so consumed by all that we have to DO that we forget to recognize and appreciate how far we’ve come.  

Before the end of year marathon begins, I’m encouraging us all to stop and take a deep breath. Take a moment to be thankful for where we are and how we got here and to say thank you to those who have helped.

 We’ve all known specific individuals who’ve helped shape what we’ve accomplished and who we’ve become.  It may have been as part of a structured mentoring program, or a manager who took you under their wing, or you may have been fortunate enough to have had a trusted advisor to guide your career. It could have been a long term relationship, or just someone who lent you a hand - or an ear - when you needed it.   Perhaps they shared been words of encouragement or gave you a kick in the pants. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that it made a difference. 

So pick up the phone, write a note, a text, an email, meet up for a virtual coffee – whatever works. Say THANKS to those who’ve mattered to you. You’ll make their day….and yours!