Mentors Required

For people to achieve what they have dreamed, they need  examples of other achiever, and a road map to get there. It is infinitely easier to stay with the norm and not grow, but tremendously powerful to achieve what your heart desires. This holds true for all of us, from the youngest student to the most senior executive.

Who is a Mentor?

We all are. Anyone who has achieved anything can mentor someone who has never done that same task, climbed the same ladder or earned the same recognition or skill level. As my friend and colleague Dr. Carolyn Brightharp of Virginia College, Greenville, SC, campus likes to say, "Each one -- teach one." 

Where do you find a Mentor?

Look to someone who has done what your heart desires. Want a PhD? Ask several people who have earned their degree in a field you are interested in. Don't stroke their egos so much that you make them sick, but honestly say, "I want to achieve what you have. Can I buy you lunch and ask you questions about it?" Many times you won't need to buy lunch, and I have found usually the best and brightest give of themselves freely in this manner all of the time. Those who are curt and stingy usually have issues you don't want to be locked into dealing with.  In the end, find a mentor you trust, whose ethics match yours and with whom you feel comfortable asking questions. You'd be rewarded and can then pay it forward to those who need your expertise in the future.