The Mentor in Me
April 12, 2013 § 1 Comment
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” ~ Bob Proctor, Author, Speaker and Success Coach
It recently occurred that the first two letters in the word mentor are ME. I was musing on that after a colleague told me she sees me as a mentor and thanked me or my support.
When Angie Saltman, who operates Saltmedia, a web development company in Grande Prairie, mentioned this, I hadn’t realized I’d had an impact through our discussions about business.
But that’s the way it is with mentoring. You can be teaching without necessarily realizing it. It was particularly noteworthy because Angie is someone out in the community as there was no thought of providing anything more than casual advice.
“When we first met, I was taken with how confident you are and I realized I needed to work on that part of me,” Angie told me. Saltmedia has been in operation for three years. “I appreciated how you’ve taken time to share your career and business experience.”
That’s why I love the Bob Procter quote. It’s truly a thrill to recognize someone will thrive at an undertaking even with limited experience and confidence, and then watching them flourish.
Now I’ve won awards for my work and led a fruitful career. I’ve supervised numerous people, including employees with my own communications business. I certainly know I’ve made a difference to several people’s futures if by no other measure than the number of references I’ve provided. I know, of course, it has gone way beyond that and for someone to outright tell me how I’ve helped them is touching.
Although I’m not about to slow down, this feedback has happened enough lately from younger co-workers and associates that I feel at the pinnacle of my career.
Having colleagues recognize my role in shaping their careers is acknowledgement that I’ve invested time and energy as they find their way in the world. I think of it as my own way of giving back to a life that’s been rewarding to me.
What I have learned and pass on to others becomes the foresight of those with less experience. The true joy comes when mentees challenge and question what I have said and offer their own ideas. Even more thrilling are the times when I know I am learning from my younger colleagues.
A mentorship doesn’t have to involve someone in the same community or even direct involvement in their day-today work. I met Mary Leong, a student at UBC, three years ago while she was working in Grande Prairie. She’d been assigned to visit me to at City Hall to discuss a partnership with the agency employing her during the summer.
We’ve kept in touch over the last couple of years and I always enjoy hearing Mary’s latest news. She’s one of those people who you know will go as far as their ambition takes them. I look forward to saying, “I knew Mary Leong when …”
She wanted to contribute to what I had to say on this topic since she felt I’d influenced her career direction.
“To me, David is a long-distance mentor who checks in every once in a while to deliver news and information on the new initiatives he’s working on, but also to provide encouragement and support in a sometimes very rocky field.”
She recalls travelling to Grande Prairie to pursue a career path which she soon realized was ill-suited to her personality and interests. At the same time, she was discovering an interest in new media and communications.
“Our initial conversation was brief, but the topic of communications in a changing media landscape was brought up. I was surprised when David followed up with information about how the city was using new media and technology to connect with its citizens, which I found fascinating. That, for me, was the turning point as I realized that someone was taking an interest in my career development and providing information that could support my journey.
“These discussions provided a holistic view of the day-to-day tasks in a communications job, and spurred me to seek out opportunities to grow in the field.”
Mary is completing her Political Science and Psychology degree at UBC, and will be working for a year before starting the Politics and Communication Master’s program at the London School of Economics in September 2014.
Her goal is to work in the field of media and communications for a non-profit she’s passionate about to help enact policy change.
Mary’s own passion is to be a mentor to young minority girls to ensure they have the tools to succeed at whatever they set out to do, whether as a CEO, a politician or an entrepreneur.
Knowing Mary, those young ladies will be fortunate to have that leadership.
I thought this quote would be a most appropriate way to end this post:
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter. Going to bed knowing we have done something wonderful is what matters to me.” ~ Steve Jobs
The Muse and Views 
You started out your blog with a remarkable quote, David:
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” ~ Bob Proctor, Author, Speaker and Success Coach.
I had a mentor who helped to inspire, motivate and – encourage me to write articles and stories to the absolute best of my ability. He was the kind of person who everyone has probably has had the pleasure of knowing at one point in their lives. In my case my mentor was someone who reminded me of my Grade 6 teacher. My mentor made me feel worthwhile both as a writer and a person. He always created within me, a voracious interest in writing, which made me want to to delve into my work, to greater depths than I knew possible. I was very lucky he saw far more in me than I ever saw in myself, not just a writer but as a friend, because he instilled confidence within me. He was a true blessing.
You always enjoy taking a closer look at words and spellings, David, and it’s evident when you stated: “It recently occurred that the first two letters in the word mentor are ME. I was musing on that after a colleague told me she sees me as a mentor and thanked me or my support.” Your mind is a creative one – you possess a true writer’s mind.
You would make a good mentor to others who want to write or, to those who have other aspirtations. You described some of the people you have mentored and expressed the gains they have made through the impact you had on them.
As far as myself, when I have read through your blogs, the impact in my own writing style is noticeably more ‘open’ than previously. I sometimes feel vulnerable when writing with heartfelt emotion but blogs that talk about feelings inspire my own feelings to come forth in writing.
I feel good about writing with an openness in blogs and in comments that I make on yours and Wendy’s blogs. Even if my own writing may be painful for me to work through at times, it is still cathartic within the process and I appreciate that it is so. I crave writing, more than anything I have ever wanted anything in my life.
Your own confidence in writing shines through, David, and it is something that Angie, your friend, commented on. You were there as a support person and even provided beneficial information that she could use for future opportunities. That, is a true mentor.
You defined your love of this quote well: “That’s why I love the Bob Procter quote. It’s truly a thrill to recognize someone will thrive at an undertaking even with limited experience and confidence, and then watching them flourish.”
If you can inspire even *one* person – and continue to be a source of inspiration, that in turn, will unfold to having your protégé go forward to mentor others. As well, you explained that they may end up being a mentor to you, yourself, when you stated: “Even more thrilling are the times when I know I am learning from my younger colleagues.”
Any quote from Steve Jobs is typically a great one!
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter. Going to bed knowing we have done something wonderful is what matters to me.” ~ Steve Jobs
This is what I strive for in life, overall. To be a good person, to do amazing things – to write from my heart and to inspire others. I want to live a life that is wonderful and meaningful.