About a month ago, I saw a tweet from Shel Holtz, ABC, that piqued my curiosity:
Not one to bridle said curiosity, I followed the link Shel provided and immediately signed up for the Mentorship Connection. Again, almost immediately, I was told (via e-mail) that I had been matched with a willing mentee: Nick Lucido – and now it was up to the two of us to connect and figure out how I could help Nick move towards his PR career goals.
What Nick and I have in common are a passion for smart PR and the desire to give back to the broader PR community by being actively involved in it. Thanks to the similarity in our natures, it took the two of us almost a month to speak via telephone this past Friday (though we’ve been corresponding via e-mail and Twitter since we were put in touch). I was struck by his drive and conviction – how many of us knew while still in high school that PR was our chosen path? – but most of all, by his willingness to extend himself along paths unknown.
What Makes a Mentor?
About a week after I saw Shel’s tweet, Kami Huyse wrote an insightful post on why mentors are vital to the development of one’s career. I’ve had many friends, colleagues and supporters who have helped me over the years, and I hope there will be many more.
But as I read Kami’s post, it reminded me of the mentors who have – perhaps without knowing it – been instrumental in helping me navigate my career and grow into my PR shoes. John Mason, one of the most visionary educators this world has seen, was an early mentor; since I moved to the U.S., I can never repay the kindnesses my first boss, Charly Zukow, and measurement queen Katie Paine have shown me. More than kindness, though, they exemplify the dictionary definition of a mentor:
What John, Charly and Katie have even more in common is that – at least from my point of view – they didn’t come to me and say, “Hey, I’m going to mentor you.”
What they did, instead, was lead by example, letting me know their respective doors were always open. They recognized potential that I did not, and armed me with the confidence to plumb that potential. They steered me towards taking on ever-increasing challenges that, when I succeeded, showed me possibilities I didn’t even know existed. And when I failed – because we all do – they let me lick my wounds but, before long, picked me up, dusted me off and set me back on track.
What John, Charly and Katie have in common is that they earned the title of mentor. And whether they know it or not – or like it or not – they will always be my mentors.
If I can do even one-tenth for Nick of what has been done for me, I will count myself fortunate. And perhaps then I’ll earn the title of being his mentor.
What about you? How have your mentors inspired you and earned your trust? I’d love to know your thoughts.
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[…] should know that Nick is a former mentee of mine, though I don’t think I taught him anything he didn’t already know. He’s a […]
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In my professional life there is only 1 person I have learned “tricks of the trade” from but she has not and will never qualify as my mentor. She is what I never want to be as a person, she is also what I aspire to be as a PR person, so yes its not what a mentor teaches you to do, it is who a mentor is and what you are to her that makes her a mentor! The sentence reads like a jumbled word puzzle, my apologies for that.
Jason –
I can’t think of any such programs in the UK, but perhaps Allie might? You might want to check with IABC as well.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Shonali
Hi Shonali,
This is really interesting, but do you know of any similar mentoring schemes in the UK, as I’d love the opportunity to share any advice and learning I’ve picked up over the years with those just starting out?
Ta muchly,
J
RT @bethharte @shonali asks What Makes a Great Mentor: http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5 Want to mentor? http://thecreativecareer.com/mentors
RT @bethharte @shonali asks What Makes a Great Mentor: http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5 Want to mentor? http://thecreativecareer.com/mentors
@shonali asks What Makes a Great Mentor… http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5 Want to mentor? http://thecreativecareer.com/mentors/ (hat tip: @shel)
@shonali asks What Makes a Great Mentor… http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5 Want to mentor? http://thecreativecareer.com/mentors/ (hat tip: @shel)
Allie, thank you for creating such a great service. Do keep us posted with how it goes.
I can’t thank you enough for signing up to be a mentor. When I was a student, I found terrific mentors in professors, internship colleagues and older students, but I always had specific questions about moving into a larger market (I’m now in Chicago) to start my career. I’m happy to see professionals volunteering to step up and guide students!
Have you seend @shonali ‘s post on what makes a mentor? You really should. http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5
Have you seend @shonali ‘s post on what makes a mentor? You really should. http://tinyurl.com/dbtzo5
Back at you, Stace. :)
Shonali,
What a great posting. It’s good of you to get involved in mentoring. There are so many people who give so much to me in my career (please note the present tense). When I have the opportunity to aid a deserving colleague, I try to do it. It’s frustrating that PR folks who are talkers and not doers can taint the reputation of the entire industry, so the more we can aid able communicators and work with them, the better for us all.
So this is all just a long-winded way of saying, “Amen, sister!”
-Stacey
You’re exactly right, Kami. Thank you for adding this to your wonderful post!
I will add this to my mentors post.
I like that you mentioned failure because that is one area in which a mentor is so vital. Having someone around whom doesn’t allow you to use failure as an excuse to give up is critical.
That’s a great point, Medini; if they didn’t point us in the right direction, who knows where we’d be now? Thank you for sharing.
Hi Shonali,
Nice post! Well, I have had many mentors in my life from friends who have had similar experiences to colleagues that have done the same job before me.
I think the one thing that resonates with me from your article is that all the people who inspired me are the ones that not only saw my potential but guided me to open the correct doors..behind which I would find the prize.
Most importantly , Shonali, they have shown me “where” to look for inspiration within myself and have given me “exact pointers” to make things happen.