Mentors and Inspirations

Do you have mentors and/or people who inspire you?  If you profiled them would they be younger, older, stronger, healthier?

Not to long ago I had to participate in an exercise at work where we had to pick three mentors and explain why.  Once everyone was done writing, several people were called on to share with the crowd who they picked and why.  Some of their mentors were actually in the crowd.  The "mentors" were humbly surprised.  I thought that was cool.

Then I noticed that some of the mentors were actually younger than the people that were learning/looking up to them.  Then I realized the mentors came from entirely different backgrounds, educations and professional paths than the people who selected them.

This changed my whole perspective on mentors and who I could find inspiration from.  Previously, I had thought that a mentor had to meet a certain age or life experience level.  Sixty? Seventy? Eighty?  Someone who has started 4, 5, 6 companies?

Now I look to different age groups and different walks of life to find my inspiration, guidance, mentoring ... and you should too!  For example, children are great at helping you increase your curiosity and creativeness.  Children never stop asking questions and their creativeness is boundless.  In their world pigs can fly and unicorns hide when adults are near.

If you want to increase your decisiveness look to someone who has flown experimental planes, served in combat or is a policeman/firefighter.  Have you ever been the first person to fly a plane that's never been off the ground before?  Many times things will go awry and you have to make a quick life saving decision.  Having to make life saving decisions daily will sharpen your abilities!

If you want to improve your health find someone who is in much better shape than you and study their habits (what they eat, how they exercise, etc).   I have a neighbor that is at least twenty years older than me and I think that he will outlive me.  He's in great health and never stops moving!

Whatever area of your life you are looking to improve you can find mentors and inspirations all around you.  And, you will find that they will be flattered and happy to help you in your pursuit!  Even if you never meet your mentor, look for biographies, books and magazine articles on them and you will likely gain the inspiration and direction that you need. More mentor ideas listed below.

Have a great day!

Want to be ... Mentor:
Actor         ... DiCaprio, Hanks, Nicholson
Actress      ... Johansson, Jolie, Lawrence, Berry
Athlete       ... Jordan, Woods, Manning, Brady, Federer, Dawes, Williams
Villain         ... The Joker, Mussolini, Hitler,Scarlett Overkill
Hero/Saint  ... Jesus, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela