The Mentor Effect

You know those people who always seem a few steps ahead? The ones who make it look effortless, like they’ve cracked some secret code?

Well, chances are, they’ve learned a trick or two from people who came before them.

If you’re serious about growing in your career (or figuring out where on earth it’s headed), there’s one thing you absolutely can’t afford to overlook: learning from experience.

And I don’t just mean your own experience - though yes, the lessons you’ve learned the hard way are pure gold.

I’m talking about something even richer: tapping into the wisdom, the battle scars, the lightbulb moments of those who’ve been there before you. The mentors, the quiet legends in your field, the folks who’ve taken the long way ‘round and have stories that could fill books (and probably should). The giants, if you will.

We tend to think we’ve got to figure it all out on our own - especially in a world that seems to celebrate independent hustle. But I don't think that's true.

So today, let’s unpack what it really means to learn from experience - yours and others’. How to actively seek out and tap into the vast well of knowledge held by those who've walked the path before you. How to do it well. How to make it a habit. And why it could be the most underrated superpower in your professional toolkit.

Think about it: individuals who've navigated extraordinary challenges, made pivotal decisions under immense pressure, and achieved truly remarkable things.

JFK, Churchill, Mandela... or even lesser-known figures who’ve quietly led teams, movements, or companies through incredibly challenging times. The kind of people who’ve had to make decisions that changed lives - sometimes entire nations - while under immense scrutiny.

You can learn so much from them, and it's for this reason that I personally love reading their life stories! Dig into their biographies, explore their writings, and try to grasp their mindset, their approach to problem-solving, and their ability to lead and influence others. These are qualities that transcend specific industries.

For me, biographies are seriously underrated self-help books. You get to see the full picture, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

These individuals, often later in life, are willing to share their mistakes, their stumbles, and their hard-won lessons. And we often glean the most profound insights from those "warts and all" moments, right?

Action, experimentation, and real-world application trumps everything else – planning, analyzing, reading, and all those other non-action-based undertakings.

You can plan, read, analyse and listen ‘til the cows come home, but nothing compares to real-life experience. Rolling up your sleeves, making mistakes, learning on the go - that’s where real growth lives.

That said, there’s something powerful that sits in the middle: real-life mentors. People you can actually talk to. Unlike JFK or Churchill (fascinating as their books are), you can’t have a two-way conversation with them - and even if they were still around, chances are you wouldn't be grabbing a coffee anytime soon.

But a mentor? That’s someone who can meet you where you're at. You bring your challenges, they bring experience — and together, you workshop it in real-time.

When you combine all three — wisdom from those who've gone before, guidance from someone who gets your world right now, and your own willingness to take action — that's when things start to click!

A genuine, meaningful conversation with a good mentor is worth its weight in gold. It's a two-way street, a dynamic exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

Unlike a book, which is a one-way communication, mentorship is about your unique situation, your specific challenges, and your individual aspirations.

Then, depending on where you are in your career, you might benefit from finding someone in your industry or a closely related field.

But even more important than that, in my view, is finding someone who's done something you aspire to do. Someone who's achieved a level of success or built a career that you ultimately want to emulate.

Let me share a quick anecdote about how I stumbled upon my own mentor. I was helping out at a workshop for PhD students, teaching them how to pitch themselves to potential employers.

After the workshop, we went upstairs for a networking event. I was just observing, and this guy walked in and struck up a conversation with me. We just clicked. I found out he'd started and scaled a few successful businesses, and I thought, "Right, I want to do that one day. This guy's got the experience I need." So, I reached out a couple of days later, and to my surprise, he agreed to be my mentor. And he still is to this day!

- Genuine Connection: You've got to enjoy spending time with this person and feel like you can have open and honest conversations.

- Shared Aspirations: Ideally, your mentor should have done something or achieved something that you one day hope to do in your own career.

While industry or profession can be helpful, they're not as crucial as those two core elements. After all, you're not just looking for someone to give you technical advice; you're looking for someone to guide you on a broader career journey.

Now, a word of caution: ego can be a real roadblock to learning and growth. That mindset of "I can do it all myself, I don't need anyone's help" is a dangerous trap. It can prevent you from seeking out valuable guidance and support. I've definitely been guilty of that way of thinking in the past.

Confidence is essential, of course. You need to believe in yourself and your abilities. But there's a crucial difference between healthy self-assurance and destructive arrogance.

The confidence to ask for help is just as important as the confidence to tackle a challenge head-on.

So, there you have it. Learn from the giants of the past and present, seek out mentors who resonate with you, and embrace the power of collaborating with your fellow humans. Honestly, I wish someone had told me this (or maybe forcibly made me understand it) earlier on in my career.

Not only do you not need to do everything yourself, but you'll also go further, faster, better, and stronger - choose your word! - by embracing the support of others.

You'll achieve more, you'll do it more quickly, and have way more fun along the way!

Now, I'd love to hear from you. What are your experiences with mentorship and learning from others? Any insights you'd like to share below? 👇