Do You Have A Hero?
why a mentor is importantHistory isn't just something we talk about to fill up textbooks or so you know where Columbus went to bang Indian girls. History is a big, fat, lesson book that can teach us what worked and what didn't.
People have been on Earth for so long and they've committed every possible stupidity known to man. Those who are shrewd have studied history so as not to repeat what others did wrong. I have a name for these people; they're called the vast minority. Others can't be bothered; they say "I need to discover it for myself." In my world, guys like that end up discovering for themselves that they have a bullet in their heads.
That's why only a cafone thinks he doesn't need a mentor. A mentor is like a small history book; he hasn't done it all, but he has done enough to tell you what to do and what not to do. A good mentor should be in a position or industry you'd like to be in. If you want to be a fireman, Pamela Anderson shouldn't be your mentor. Know what I mean?
A good mentor will help you focus, hone your talent, teach you the ins and outs of what he knows, and show you the shortcuts of life (especially the profitable ones). He'll be your consigliere of sorts, giving you the kind of advice your father never could. He'll spend time with you, he'll groom you, and he'll know when to let you go. The trick is finding this blessed man.
who should you look up to?So who gets the privilege of being your teacher? Before I discuss this, let's remember that it's a two-way street. You can choose a mentor, but that mentor has to agree to fulfill that role. Don't waste your time asking to be mentored by someone who doesn't even have time for his mistress. Pick someone who has the resources (especially the time and effort) to spend years teaching you the ropes.
The first thing you should have is a short-list of people around you that fit the role of a mentor. It has to be someone in a related field to what you are interested in. If you want to be an actor, you aren't going to hang around Warren Buffett. I hate repeating myself, but some people never listen.
Your short-list should include people you respect and who have enough "history" to make them credible sources of information. Basically, they have to have done something worth your respect and the respect of others. I'm not taking about cash; I'm talking about accomplishments. Anybody can fall into money; it's not a measure of respect.
Your mentor should have lived through circumstances you can relate to. For example, you should have the same family background, or the same educational pedigree, or a brother with a missing leg, etc. If he is the Count of Wiltshire and you are an orphan from Africa, it's not going to work. Capisce ?
Before you choose De Niro, here's a list of mentors you don't want...