Mentor, a must have not a nice to have

Have you ever thought about who you are, the legacy you one day might leave behind? Have you ever just stopped and thought, what do people think of you? I am not alluding to the desire to be liked; rather I am digging into something greater and more significant. Although we can find a social footprint almost about anyone these days thanks to social media, but our legacies will not be our social media profiles, our fame, fortune or high-profile jobs.

However our legacies will be stories of the people that we surrounded ourselves with. Whether they are our friends, children, family, neighbors, or co-workers, it is people who maintain and uphold the legacies of others. Imagine a world in which we are all striving to leave a lasting positive legacy; I know I am. We should all be more aware of our daily impact on the people with which we spend the most time. This is for sure something I learned over time and it’s important that we help others realize this sooner. In fact, we might be more proactive in their growth, development, and just the pure nature of becoming a good person. These are my thoughts when I think about mentorship and coaching.

I shared in my first ever article a quote, “none of us is as smart as all of us” and that very quote is why I searched out my mentors and I will continue to seek out mentors no matter where I am in my journey. You should do the same! We are always learning, and what better to learn from others, both the good and the bad. Everything is a learning experience and today I want to tell you why mentorship is a must, not a nice to have.

For me, I have been lucky to have mentors throughout my life, both in my personal and professional life. Today, I want to share more about professional mentors and why they are so important in any profession or career path you seek. It started for me at a very early stage of my professional career. I can recall one of my earliest moments in coaching while working for Vinny, the owner of a Worlds Gym, and Vinny used to always say to me “Wayne, when talking to clients, always let them know that you understand them and their feelings”, which meant that I needed to always be empathic and listen to what they are saying to me. That quote has stuck with me all my life, because if you cannot understand how can their needs and wants, how can you help? People sometimes are so worried about selling them something you miss actually understanding their needs and wants.

That said, I have had the great privilege of having four (4) strong mentors in my professional life and I am proud to call them a friend still to this very day. Keep in mind, these mentors come in all shapes and sizes with a diverse background. They have helped design who I am today, helping me build what I call our very own personal brand (passion). As you recall, I mentioned this very topic in my first article.

So what is a Mentor? They can serve as a sounding board for your journey, career, and life. Additionally, mentors can play a large role in helping upcoming or recent opportunities within the workforce or in a current position. I still talk daily to my mentors, they are my life line in all that I do. Mentors can connect you with people in their network that can open the door to new possibilities for you. But the best part of a mentor, is their stories, experiences and the knowledge that is priceless. Be the sponge when around them!

My mentors over the years have taught me valuable lessons that life with me each and every day. From not making certain business decisions to fostering certain partnerships, a mentor can help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.

Here are ten reasons why you need someone like a mentor:

1. Mentors provide experience, information and knowledge. 

2. Mentors are honest, they can see what we need to improve on where we often cannot. 

3. Mentors find ways to motivate and inspire our personal and professional growth. 

4. Mentors encourage us and help keep us going. 

5. Mentors help us with self-control, which create necessary boundaries that we cannot set for ourselves. 

6. Mentors are sounding boards so we can bounce ideas off them for an unfiltered opinion, but be prepared for the brutal truth.

7. Mentors are trusted advisers, brutally honest, and at times bluntly direct. 

8. Mentors can be connectors, networks and influencers. 

9. Mentors have the experiences you can learn from to prevent making the same mistakes beginners make. 

10. Mentors are priceless in more ways than one. 

Making sense?

I could go on and on about why mentors are so very important, both in your professional and personal lives. I would not be where I am today if it was not for my mentors. Remember, a mentor is not always a millionaire, a startup guru, or the president of a company. A mentor could be anyone, they come in all shapes and sizes with a diverse background of knowledge and experiences. Trust me, when you least expect it will happen.

If you can take away just one thing from a mentor, that is considered a success. You will be surprised by what your mentor(s) will leave as a lasting memory.

Be grateful to them, honor them, and thank them. One day you might need to return a favor to them as they did for you. Seek a mentor, it’s not a nice to have, it’s a must have!