Being Teachable Towards Others: Find Some Mentors

Proverbs 10:22  “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

I can’t tell you how crucial mentors are in my life. We all need a Mr. Miyagi, a Gandalf, a Morpheus, a Yoda. Here are a few thoughts:

It’s Our Responsibility To Seek Mentors

“Well I wish someone would mentor me.”

“I’m waiting on someone to mentor me.”

This is ridiculous. Rarely, will successful people seek out unsuccessful people and volunteer to spend time with them. They are busy being successful. But most of them will spend time with you if you are serious and humble and really want to learn from them. But don’t wait on them!

Pick mentors in a specific area of interest

If you see yourself starting a business when you graduate, take a businessman out to lunch. (They will usually end up paying for it and they will admire your ability to learn and you just made a great connection)

If you want to be an author. Start emailing some authors and beg them to schedule a meeting over the phone.

If you want to be a leader on the football field, or basketball court, or volleyball court, or cheerleading. Then ask the older ones to help you out.

Be bold and audacious about it.

We Need Several Mentors

You can’t learn everything you need to learn from one person. I have lots of different mentors.

Right now I’m being mentored by a father and staff member of my church. He mentors me in my confidence and my marriage.

I’m being mentored by a billionaire because I read his books on finances.

I’m being mentored by Starbucks because I read a book about they way they run their brilliant coffee shops.

I’m being mentored by a 21 year old in my workouts. I do whatever he tells me to do.

I being mentored by several successful pastors because I get their podcasts, read their books, and follow them on Twitter.

I’m being mentored by other churches. I visit other churches. I interview other pastors. I go to conferences. I learn from what others are doing.

We Can Be By Mentored Anyone

I’m mentoring a 30 year old. I’m 27. I would recommend having a mentor that is older than you but they don’t all have to be. It has less to do with age and more to do with them being somewhere where you are not. 

If you see someone that has lost 20 pounds in the last month and you would give anything to lose 3 pounds then you need to be talking to them.

If you are an athlete and you notice an athlete that is better than you. Instead of being envious of them and acting like you could care less about them. Get to know them and learn from them.

If one of your friends is really good with people but you are not. But you want to be. Then ask them to teach you how to work with people.