The privilege of being a mentor

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” – Brené Brown 

I’m not immune to the fact that my work as a mentor is a huge privilege. The trust that one human being puts in another – when they tell them their true fears, concerns and troubles, when they simply let off steam, or admit “I’m not sure I’ve got this” – is huge. 

And it feels even bigger until you do get those feelings off your chest! 

Reaching out can be hard. Overcoming that first hurdle to put your trust in someone and speak from your heart can be immensely intimidating – until done. I say this because – both professionally and personally – I’ve found that, once spoken, one’s worries of opening up lose a good deal of their power over you. 

There can be may different feelings holding us back. A large part of them can be fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of sounding silly. Fear of making yourself vulnerable. 

The role of mentor can be pivotal here. While you might not feel comfortable or confident expressing your feelings to a colleague, it can feel a lot easier to express yourself to a mentor who is not involved in the situation, won’t judge and has no axe to grind. 

It’s a safe, brilliant space in which to bring your own ideas to the surface, test them out and talk them through. 

Being part of someone’s journey as they take on the fears they feel, speak their truth and share their concerns and, then, to see those worries lift and their old joy and confidence and belief in what they’re doing and in themselves return is a massive privilege. And one I don’t take lightly. 

It is, without doubt, the biggest privilege of my career to be able to help others achieve their business and professional goals. In this work, I have found my true vocation. 

How can I help you find yours?