MAY 7, 2021
DON’T JUST FOLLOW YOURSELF
As we continue to meet with our Band of Brothers, we are encouraging each one of them to begin to write down their personal vision, define for themselves what “Success” means to them, write down their story, and find themselves a mentor to share, challenge, and encourage them on a personal level. This should allow growth and improvement in both individuals as they navigate their respective strengths and blind spots in life. Try being an independent thinker and not just follow the crowd. Socrates reminds us; “To find yourself, think for yourself.”
Our intention is to match people with a mentor along with a formal curriculum for each of them to follow. I hope all of you have had great mentors in your past and continue to do so today, even after you think you have life figured out. Oprah Winfrey reminds us: “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the HOPE inside yourself.” There are so many benefits to both the mentor and the mentee that I like to call it; “Win/Win Mentoring.”
We have ALL had mentors in our past. We may not have even realized that people were there for us all along. Guiding us, encouraging us, challenging us, and inspiring us to be better at something. What are you working on now that you could do better? If you don’t know, check out your strengths and see where things come naturally to you and where you might need a little extra push from that mentor. Many of us had fathers or mothers that “pushed” us into activities in hopes that we find what we are good at. We are ALL good at something and it is up to you to find that something that you can love and cherish the rest of your life.
Our goal for our Band of Brothers is to TEACH others to be inspired, be grateful, set priorities, live a balanced life, laugh, love, learn, listen, gain confidence, be empathetic FOR others, manage stress, develop patience, understanding, wisdom, courage, resilience, stepping out of our comfort zone, managing fears, dealing with money, and helping others. That is where you find out WHO you really are in this world. We hope to guide them to be good mentors to others on a personal, business, family, and spiritual level. This all starts with being a great role model for those you are mentoring.
You must be selective in whom you choose as a mentor. You will want mentors of character, mentors with experiences, and mentors with a desire to learn rather than just being the “alpha dog.” There will need to be ground rules and a commitment on the part of both parties in order to have a successful experience. As part of the process, each party will need to have self-awareness and an open mind. No one knows it all and mentoring can serve as a great tool for dealing with life’s challenges and fulfillment. By having a mentor, you must realize that you NEED help and that following yourself is not a viable option for effective personal growth. When you become self-aware, one of two things can happen;
First: a person’s pride swells up and he/she cannot bring him/herself to ask another person for advice. This is very common.
Second: The other reaction is to HUMBLE yourself and say; “I need your help.” That decision not only leads to greater knowledge, but it often develops maturity. It reinforces the fact that people NEED one another, not just when they are young and starting out, but their entire lives.
Make a commitment today to find yourself a mentor. It will be the best decision of your life.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “It is hard to improve when you have no one but yourself to follow.” John Maxwell