#14- Mentors Shorten Your Learning Curve
Do you know why the number 4120 is important?
That’s how many weeks the average guy gets on earth. That can seem like a lot or not that many depending on how old you are. I’m 61 or 3172 weeks old, so it sounds like just the blink of an eye.
4120 proves no man has enough time to make every mistake so he can learn the answers. Contrary to what you might have heard, experience is not the best teacher. Other people’s experience is the best teacher. Learning from other people's experiences is the smartest way to shorten your learning curve.
Mentors are the best way to learn from other people’s experience.
Mentors compress decades into months. They tell you what’s over the hill you're barrelling towards at top speed. A great mentor will spot your blind spots and warn you before they wreck you.
Mentors don’t just teach you what not to do, they introduce you to opportunities you’d never consider.
Mentors do what no self-help book or Youtube video can do-they show you what integrity, leadership, and character look like in the flesh.
Some of the greatest and most successful men in history leveraged the power of mentors. Alexander the Great had Aristotle, Henry David Thoreau had Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Zuckerberg had Steve Jobs. These men knew going alone isn’t admirable, it’s inefficient and arrogant
Here’s a few thoughts on mentors:
You’ll need more than one. It’s highly unlikely you’ll find one man who is a superstar at everything. Find a mentor for career guidance, another for marriage and family, another for how to manage your money.
Most mentor worthy men are waiting for you to ask. These high quality men will never insert themselves into your life without an invitation. So quit worrying about rejection.
Be prepared when you meet with a mentor. Have a plan of what you want to talk about when you sit down with your mentor. An even better plan is to send a list of questions to him beforehand so he’ll be able to give you the best parts of his scars of experience. And it should go without saying, you ALWAYS pick up the check.
There is no expiration date on when a man needs a mentor. Any man can learn at any age. There are always men further down the trail of life than you!
One final thought, no matter what age you are, there are men who look up to you. Be ready to say “yes” when one of them asks you to mentor them.
Start today. Identify one potential mentor this week. Take action before any more of your 4120 weeks slip away. Find mentors, absorb their wisdom, and build the impactful life you were meant for. Your future self—and everyone who depends on you—will thank you.
One Small Step For Men….
You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.