Remember the ancient wisdom, the master appears when the student is ready.
When you fight to solve a problem, struggle to grow a crop, train for a tough match, and give it all you’ve got, give it your best, your blood, sweat, and grime start knocking on the door of the Universe. The universe always invites such visitors in.
Mentors are not difficult to find. They yearn to pass-on the wisdom they got from their mentors after they have applied their own experience to it. You are asking for their lifetime treasure: perspective, judgement, and priorities.
You’re seeking Aristotle’s wisdom, Michael Jackson’s stagecraft charisma, or Elon Musk’s bold innovation. You are asking a warrior to show you how to swing a sword, a chef about how to craft new recipes, a master electrician how to rewire an old home, or a surgeon how to operate with precision.
You are asking masters and experts to give you their life’s treasure.
To start, first earn the privilege to be worthy of their life lessons.
But how do you do that?
How do you truly become worthy of their trust?
Marie Curie, the Radium Nobel Laureate mentored a scientist who also won a Nobel Prize. Irene Jolio-Curie (pronounced: Eren Juleo Curie) was her daughter, and the mother and daughter had a bond of trust. Steve Jobs mentored Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. Zuckerberg showed technical skill and a deep desire to learn. Elon Musk’s mentees are innovating battery recycling, space, and other ventures. They meet his demands for relentless pursuit of research and rigor to find the right question and to chase data-supported possibilities.
Mentors want to see that you are capable of becoming what you are asking them to help you become. That you are seriously curious about progress, are willing to sacrifice sleep, and are strong enough to starve your temptations to channel your energy to your pursuit.
Mentors want to know that you are a good fit for your goal. That you are not an elephant wanting to become a hummingbird, or an eagle trying to swim like a shark, instead, you are a caterpillar wanting to come into your majestic butterfly form.
They want to know that you are worth their time and energy, that you have the strength of a warrior’s muscle to learn how to swing the sword.
In summary, mentors look for three things:
1. Authentic passion
- your relentless curiosity and hard work.
2. Growth potential
- the ability to evolve, not mimic.
3. Gratitude
- respect for their time and trust.
If you gain their support but fail to prove your worth, mentors will eventually walk away. Some mentors will be forgiving, and some will resent your theft of their time and energy. Be honest and truthful from the start.
Want a mentor?
Become a committed, nonstop sledgehammer and keep knocking down the walls of ignorance to quench your curiosity. Out-work all others in your field. Pick something that comes naturally to you. Be honest in asking and courageous in listening. And be grateful in receiving and being the keeper of your mentors’ lessons. One day, you will start passing the torch to those who earn your trust. Be that person now.
When your blood, sweat, tears, and grime make a call on the universe, it always delivers. Oysters turn into pearls, coal into diamonds, and iron into steel – you will go from being an apprentice to a master. Like the Sun rises every day, mentors will race help you. They will light up your path.
If it does take long for the universe to send the right mentors, you will still be at the edge of all knowledge, skill, or expertise in your field. And if you end up in this spot without a mentor, you will have the right to take a bow yourself. Even if the master did not appear, you will have become a master by yourself. You will have become your own mentor.
Take the first step. Be a sledgehammer and start breaking down the walls to satisfy your curiosity. Show the universe that you’re ready.
About this series.
About this series:
In this series, I will share practical realities of mentors and mentoring dynamics. What you can expect and how you should behave. What a mentor can help with and what are the boundaries. What role mentors can play in your professional progress and life growth. How to get mentors and how to work with them. What kind of mentors you need and should have.