You Are Being Mentored

Mentorship is a very formal word.

The word, mentorship, paints this picture of you sitting down with someone in a coffee shop where they provide you the answers you are looking for.

While that can be a form of mentorship, it is definitely not the only form.

I have grown to believe that an interchangeable word for mentorship is influence.

The point of engaging with a mentor is to gain their knowledge and transfer that into your situation.

This knowledge is what influences the actions you take which in turn create the person you are.

If the goal of mentorship is to be influenced in a way that aligns to what you inspire to be then your options for mentors increase substantially.

We are influenced by something everyday.

We can be influenced by the shows we watch, the books we read, the podcast we listen to and the people we talk to.

We are always being influenced.

The question then becomes are you aware of what is influencing you? 

Do you know what is mentoring you?

This question is important because what is influencing you has direct correlation to the actions you take and it is your actions that create who you are.

The best part though is that you are in control of what influences you. You have autonomy over your mentorship.

I spent a season being “mentored” by Zig Ziglar, who was an author, motivational speaker, and salesmen throughout his career.

He passed away in late 2012 but his writings continue to influence people to this day.

But by consuming his lecture series, his seminars, and books I have been deeply influenced by Zig Ziglar.

We are influenced by everything, might as well chose what we will be influenced by.

Pick an author, a topic, even a discipline and then study. Study everything you possibly can and let them influence you. Let them mentor you.

Go out & make a difference.