Thank a Mentor

Thank a Mentor

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg

I saw that quote posted on Twitter with the request that people tag a mentor that had helped them. Since then, a few people have posted their thanks to someone, and I’ve been tagged a few times. I’m honored that people think I’ve helped them somehow, as that’s been a portion of my career for the last twenty years. I make an effort to do help others have a great career and become better at their jobs.

I’m not looking for lots of people to post anything about their mentors here or thank me. Instead, I am asking that you stop and thank someone that has helped you in your career.  Let them know they made a difference and how they did so. It’s good for them and for you.

We all need help, support, and encouragement at times to help us move forward. We can all use someone that can give us an independent view of our decisions, our choices, and more. Their thoughts and observations help us keep perspective on the way forward that best suits us. Certainly, I know I need the perspective, as well as  the advice from others.

There have been many people who have influenced my life, but two that have made a huge difference in my career are my wife and my former business partner. Those are people I’ve talked with nearly every week for the last twenty years and who have influenced me more than anyone or anything else in my life.

Life can be challenging at many times and finding the right path forward for ourselves can seem uncertain. A mentor can be an advisor, confidant, cheerleader, and support system. When you find someone(s) that meets those needs for you, treasure them and be sure to thank them for impacting your life.

Steve Jones

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