Choosing Your Mentor

Nobody wants to do it alone. Loners may insist that they enjoy being alone, but the truth of the matter is that, no one wants to be alone. If we are honest to ourselves, we all want to know that someone is with us in our journey.

Most people would prefer to follow someone; someone who seems to be heading the same way as we are. There is nothing wrong in following someone. But you need to make sure that your leader is truly heading in the way you want to go and that you will be accomplishing something by following that leader.

A man was caught driving in the middle of a downpour. The rain was so heavy that it impaired his visibility. Undecided of whether to stop or keep going, he spotted a set of taillights in front of him. He then decided to simply follow the car ahead of him as it seems that it is going in the same direction as he intends to go. He felt comfort in knowing that there was another person on the same journey. He kept following the car for what seemed like miles, until the car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. The man kept still wondering if the car ahead of him had mechanical problem or there is a blockage in the road or if the car hit an animal. A few minutes passed but the car still did not move. Instead it went to a full stop, turning off its engine and taillights. Furious that the car stopped in the middle of the road, the man began swearing.  The driver of the car tapped the man’s window.  The man asked, “What’s your problem?” The driver said, “I was going to ask you the same thing.” The man snapped, “Well, I’m not the idiot who stopped in the middle of the road and turned off his lights.” “Right”, said the driver. “But you are the idiot who’s parked in my driveway.”

There you have it.  It is okay to follow someone but you need to make  sure that the person you are following and you look up to as a mentor is someone who will expand your vision. Having a mentor matters but having the right mentor matters even more.

A mentor is important because they help you uncover your blind spots, help you see farther and stretch your horizons. A mentor helps you see clearly to discover your best path to success.

A mentor is able to do these because a mentor knows the way. He or she has the insights and wisdom born  from experience. A mentor will show the way, generously applying their insight and wisdom to your specific situation. A mentor will go the way; that is, walk with you through your own journey and help you learn from your experiences.