Almost 30 years ago I was a young pastor just starting out and an older leader who was leading in the denomination I was a part of was very kind to me and wanted to help me grow and develop. He took my out to eat, and talked to me about leadership. Learning how to lead, and how to do more than just pastor, but how to influence people to move in the direction of the vision God had given us. One name continually came up. Over and over he said “have you read, John Maxwell’s book about this or about that?” He just kept saying it, until I knew what I had to do. I started buying books and consuming them as if I was a starving man who had just been invited to a banquet.
I feasted on Developing the Leader within you, and developing the leaders around you, and on and on. It was such a new way of thinking and a fresh perspective that revealed to me what could be, and that there was a whole world beyond what I had known.
So John became my mentor. He didn’t know it, but he became what I call a distant mentor. He mentored me as he did thousands of others, through books, tapes, and conferences. I have had the opportunity to meet him a few times and every time he is sincere, and caring.
When I decided I wanted to make a positive impact on the coaching world, I knew the thing to do, would be to become a part of the John Maxwell team of Leaders and coaches, so I did and it has helped me immensely. Not only me but everyone with whom I come in contact.
I have many mentors. Some of which are distant, and others who are in close proximity. The truth is that it matters who you surround yourself with. It matters who you listen to. It matters who you choose to look to as a model for your life, dreams and visions. Every great leader I know, including John always talk about the mentors in their own lives. Having a mentor is not something you do until you get to a certain level in your life, it is something you do your entire life. the moment you think you don’t need it, is the moment you are headed down a lonely destructive path.
It can be hard to have a mentor sometimes. It can be very encouraging and very challenging, but it is always beneficial.
I highly encourage you to pursue great mentors in your life. Whether distant or intimate make sure you are posturing yourself for purpose and let someone in to help you obtain it.
Here are 3 things to do to gain effective mentors.
- Be willing to invest in yourself. It’s not just about being a fan of someone, it is aligning yourself with them to improve yourself.
- Be willing to listen to them. Anything less than listening and adhering to the coaching and training they give is a waste of everyone’s time.
- Be willing to change. Healthy things grow, growing things change.
Remember, being mentored is about personal improvement and accountability. Its about allowing someone to look at your life and help you improve it. A submitted, surrendered posture is the only way it will be effective. Be teachable or don’t even try it.
