Mentor, anybody...?
Mentor, anybody...?
Because mentoring is not just for business.
Dear Readers
I hope you are well and all is good in your world?
Today, Autumn has arrived with a vengeance, but then given the unseasonably balmy weather we’ve been having of late, it was always going to be the case, wasn’t it?
I hope it hasn’t affected you too badly?
Recently I have been giving thoughts to mentoring. It’s something I’d like to explore for myself. The Oxford English Dictionary describes a mentor as:
“A trusted friend and advisor”.
The definition makes no mention of it being a work only term or that it refers purely to business. We aren’t all Anita Roddicks (founder of the Body Shop) or Oprah Winfreys (don’t need to explain this one, do I?) with their mega business success, but I bet deep down within you, there’s something that you want to achieve - whether that’s on a personal level or something work related.
And, it’s very much human nature that we tell ourselves not to think about that thing, because we’re nowhere near good enough to achieve it. So it’s gets pushed to the back of our mind whilst we get on with our everyday.
This is where a mentor comes in. A skilled mentor will ask the right questions to elicit what it is you most want to achieve. Because the brain exists purely to keep us alive, it very much protects the status quo. This means that it tends to “filter” thoughts and ambitions that could change the situation we are currently in. So, it can be understandably hard to think about what it is you most want to achieve.
Going back to the skill of a mentor. As I said, they should be experienced enough to ask the right questions for you to discover what it is you most want. To allow those thoughts that are stuck at the back of your brain to come into the foreground of your mind for you to discover.
And, as I’ve said previously, it’s not all work/business related. It could be something you want to achieve health or fitness wise - run a marathon, climb Kilimanjaro or something equally as mind-blowing.
So, if working with your mentor helps you find your hidden dream, a good mentor should be able to help you put a plan together to help you achieve that. And it might be such an undertaking that it could take you years to achieve. Again, that very good mentor should help you break your plan down into manageable, tiny steps that could lengthen the time your dream actually takes you, but imagine the self confidence boost you receive with each tiny step you smash. And by taking these small steps, you are far more likely to stick to the plan. If only for the hit of dopamine (feel good hormone) you generate each time you tick off a step. That’s another tip - log your goals and your plan somewhere you can tick the steps off - it’s a lovely feeling!
So, what you are you waiting for? Set about finding your mentor to help you be where you want to be…..
I’ve recently been added to a Messenger chat group on Facebook and it’s been an eye opener. It’s purely Cheshire-based (where I live) and it’s full of mid-life women seeking connection and interaction with women just like them. And it’s an eye opener because I didn’t realise just how many women looking for friendship and support there were.
However, for the past two years I’ve been doing something similar. I started a closed (very important - what goes on in the group, stays in the group) 45 Not Out Facebook group and the numbers have been growing nicely. And it’s a supportive and positive place to be. But, there’s always room for more sassy, mid-life women who really haven’t given up yet. So, if you want to be part of a 200+ and growing Facebook group where you can kick back, have a moan and receive support from women just like you, then come on over. We’d love to have you. And you can join here
So, that’s it for another issue from me. As always, I hope it resonated with you. If there’s anything you’d you like me to cover, please just reply to this email.
As ever, I wish you a good rest of the week and stay safe and well until the next issue.
Take care
Una x