Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg once said, "We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the
reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark".
As a Mentee
I believe that I have been mentored throughout my life.
Whether it’s someone who guides you informally, gives you compliments or
feedback on a skill, you always stand to be benefited if you have an open
mind. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to interact with
some great individuals at a very young age. My mentors have not only inspired
me to excel but also supported me in every phase of my life.
I believe that a mentor is not one who tells you what to do
but someone who provides different perspectives and helps you analyze and
identify opportunities. My very first mentors were my parents who helped mould me
into a strong, determined, focused individual. The success factor in this scenario was the
trust that we shared and their faith in my decisions.
One of my recent mentors, is someone who recognized my
potential while I was still in college and is the reason behind my regard and
respect for my previous company. Being a
fresher I was raring to go and get started on work, my mentor helped me
channelize my energy and understand the intricacies of corporate life. His
experience, achievements, working style and leadership skills inspire me to
scale greater heights.
There have been many instances where my mentors have come to
my rescue. As it was my first job, I would get flustered when things didn’t
work out as expected and frantically search for ways to resolve issues. My
mentors helped me understand my purpose and differentiate between what is worth
worrying about and what isn’t.
As a Mentor
When new hires joined my team, I was given the opportunity
to train and mentor them. This proved to be an enriching experience for me. Not
only did I build my training and communication skills, I also learnt the
importance of being secure in my job and not holding back when giving
information. Whether it’s rendering support or providing guidance or just
listening to them, the results have been exhilarating.
As an English saying goes,”As you sow, so you reap”, what
goes around comes around. I’ve learnt that if you help others selflessly, they
in turn look for ways to invest in your success.
My mentors helped me identify my strengths and realize my
potential. At the same time they have been instrumental in giving me
constructive criticism thus helping me grow to become a better individual. Nothing beats calling up my mentors
immediately after I have achieved a feat because I know they will be thrilled
and proud of me. When the same thing happens between my mentees and me, I feel
like life has come a full circle for me.
To quote, Norman Vincent Peale, author of Power of Positive
Thinking “The more you lose yourself in
something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have”. That’s the
power of mentoring.
