Mentorship takes different shapes and forms...

For me? Well - it comes in the shape of a Bear.

For those of you who don't know me, one of my hobbies is woodcarving. As a matter of fact - the following picture is one of my recent carvings:

I didn't start out carving this well... it has taken years of practice. And - truth be known, I may never have started this hobby at all... But, back in the day... about 25 years ago, there was a guy in my church that carved a duck hunter for me. I didn't ask for it, but because my wife and I were volunteer youth leaders, we had poured into his son's life... He knew that I liked to duck hunt and that I had a black lab named "Gunner" and so he took it upon himself to carve me a duck hunter. The carving is of an old man with a dog named "Gunner" - looking up at him expectantly... The carving is entitled: "Ready Gunner?"

It is a cool carving.

My immediate response was: "Don, that is pretty cool... I would love to learn how to do that."

His response was: "Are you serious?"

I somewhat hesitantly responded... "Well... I could be..."

He responded: "Well, my son never wanted to learn, so if you are serious - I will teach you."

So in that moment began a 24 year relationship that focused on teaching me and mentoring me in the art of Woodcarving. Most Thursday nights, I would head to Don's and we would carve together... and that eventually grew into a group of about 10-15 people carving at Don and Marian's home. Great mentors pour into people. That's what Don (and Marian) has/have done. It has been a wonderful, special relationship and I have appreciated the time that Don has poured into me over the years... providing me with advice on carving techniques and providing me with advice about life. - He is around 25 years my senior, and he has seen a lot of life and has a lot of wisdom.

I am back in Minnesota for about 3 weeks and I am wrapping up the sale of a house as we get ready to move "home base" to Colorado. It just so happens that Don and Marian are moving as well - closer to their daughter. Last night was the last night that the carving group will get together. I am glad that I was back in Minnesota for the "last Hoorah..." - it is somewhat the end of an era... and it was a good run.

One of my favorite carvings that Don has carved has been this Bear. It has such fantastic detail and is extremely realistic. He has carved many great carvings over the years, but - I have just been drawn to this one. Last night he and Marian gifted me this carving as I head off to Colorado - and once again... he has poured into my life... making an impact. It's only fitting that our connection has come full circle - it began with the gift of a carving and it now ends with the gift of a carving.

I am grateful for the time spent and friendship that Don and I have had over the years. He has been responsible, in part, for my passion to mentor others. If you don't have a mentor in life, in your career - in even something as simple as a hobby, then you are missing out.

Find someone who you look up to, who has the wisdom and experience to help you progress and ask them to be your mentor. You won't regret it.

Oh... and then pay it forward. Mentoring really should be something that "comes full circle." Actually, now that I think of it... I am about the age that Don began to mentor me - guess it's time to make an impact.

Note: If my articles resonate, feel free to share with your network. If my article has, serendipitously, crossed your feed - and you like what you see; feel free to follow me. There are surely more articles to come... (Comments are always welcome too.) ??