Tweet

Mentor Others to Create Your Own Success

Guest post by: Bud Bilanich

Article Overview: Successful people are self confident. Self confident people surround themselves with positive people. Mentors, by definition are positive people. They are willing to give of themselves to help others succeed. I urge you to find mentors to help you create the successful life and career you want and deserve. I also urge you to mentor others. It's never too early. As Wall Street Journal reporter, Jonnelle Marte points out -- many young people have accelerated their career development by mentoring their boss and colleagues. I think that we all have something to offer -- something that someone else is eager to learn. Figure out what you know that others around you don't and then take the time to share your knowledge and expertise. You'll be helping your colleagues, your company and yourself if you do so.

Mentor Others to Create Your Own Success

Mentors, by definition are positive people. They are willing to give of themselves to help others grow and succeed. That's why I urge all of my coaching clients to find mentors. However, it is also important to be a mentor. By mentoring others you are giving back, and you are building your self confidence. The more you serve others, the more confidence -- and success -- will come your way. Besides that, you'll grow by mentoring. As you reflect on your life experience and knowledge and distill it into some nuggets that you can share with others, your knowledge and experience will become wisdom. The October 25, 2009 "Starting Out" column by Jonnelle Marte in the Wall Street Journal Sunday was called "Mentor Your Boss." Ms. Marte told the story of several young people in companies who were becoming what she called "reverse mentors." In most cases, these people were helping older colleagues learn how to use technology more effectively -- and getting some positive career benefits in the process.

Ms. Marte suggests that figuring out how the skills you have can benefit your company is a good place to start. Then, volunteer for projects where you can use these skills -- even if these projects are outside of your department. "Talk to your boss about how you think the company would benefit from your know-how. Offer to host a brief seminar for your colleagues."

I think this is great common sense advice. We all have something to give. Sometimes we downplay our knowledge and expertise thinking "everybody knows that." Well guess what, everybody doesn't know a lot of what you know. You can help others by sharing your knowledge and expertise. You can also help your company, and your career. Sharing what you know with others will get you noticed in a positive way.

The other day, I was at a meeting of about 100 people. There were several presentations over the course of the day. One woman, who is very intelligent and had some great things to say, did a not-so-good job in her presentation. She threw in the phrase "you know" way too many times. At a break, I watched one of her colleagues gently point out the problem with her presentation. This person then went on to offer to coach and rehearse her the next time she had to do a talk. That's one-to-one mentoring in action.

By recognizing a problem his colleague had with presentations and then offering to help her fix that problem, this person was sharing his expertise, helping a colleague, helping the company and helping build his confidence. It takes a self confident person to be willing to share his or her knowledge and expertise.

In his book, A Game Plan for Life, John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach says...

"Anywhere there is a sharing of knowledge or a teaching of experience, there is a mentor. Anywhere there is an individual with life lessons to impart, even to one person, there is a mentor...Mentoring becomes your legacy. It is the greatest inheritance you can give to others."

The common sense point here is simple. Successful people are self confident. Self confident people surround themselves with positive people. Mentors, by definition are positive people. They are willing to give of themselves to help others succeed. I urge you to find mentors to help you create the successful life and career you want and deserve. I also urge you to mentor others. It's never too early. As Wall Street Journal reporter, Jonnelle Marte points out -- many young people have accelerated their career development by mentoring their boss and colleagues. I think that we all have something to offer -- something that someone else is eager to learn. Figure out what you know that others around you don't and then take the time to share your knowledge and expertise. You'll be helping your colleagues, your company and yourself if you do so.

Related Articles
  Why Small Business Entrepreneurs Need a Mentor
  The Success of a Mentee Is a Mentor’s Ultimate Reward
  How to Find the Best Mentor for Your Needs
  Mentors Make Magic in Your Life
  Mentors – Do you have one?
  How To Effectively Use Business Mentoring
  Mirroring Your Mentor’s Success
  The Power and Profit of Mentorship
  Business Mentoring Programs
  Do you have a good Mentor for your Business?
  Why Having a Mentor is so Important for Your Business
  Get Yourself a Mentor
  What To Look For In A Mentor
  Mentoring - It’s All Greek to Me!
  How to Find the Right Sales Mentor
  Finding the Right Mentor
  So Youd Like a Mentor
  Do you need a mentor?
  Why You Need a Mentor
  Q&A - Problem with a mentor

Article Tags: be positive, build self confidence, give to others, help your colleagues, legacy, Mentor, share your expertise
Referred by: http://www.jimbouchard.org



Related Forum Posts
Famous Entrepreneur Question? - First name to come to mind was Sam Walton. After reading his aoutbiography, I feel so connected to him. My one Question would be...(after getting on one knee) "Would You Mentor Me?''
On Mentors - I've been fortunate that in every endevour I've taken on I have found a Mentor within that niche to guide me and help me learn from my mistakes. I've matured so much faster and more focused just by having someone listen to where i am at in my current day and in having someone to be accountable to. I've been blessed by having mentors naturally come into my life but if I wanted to approach one how would I go about developing the relationship and then asking them to mentor me?
A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! - This is to my Mentor{ideauniversity} who invited me here,A Big thank you to you for giving me the opportunity and having so much hope in me,because of you have being able to learn so much in this forum which has improved my business skill. A Big thank you to all my new friends who have helped me express myself and also contributed to my growth through your post and answers you have given to my post. Thanks Evan and Kevin for giving me this oportunity. cheers. Tope
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Success = Thinking (Head) + Heart (Feeling / Interest) + Hand (doing/ action). Success - H3 Robert
Rich Schefren on Business Systems Video - Bigjim, 1. Create a systemized business 2. build accountability into your team 3. document your processes


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Executives and Elevators Perfecting That Pitch

What Is The Foundation for Your Vision?

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.