I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had (and continue to have) incredible mentors in my life. Some of whom I didn’t realize were actually mentors until they were no longer there, and I had ended up in a place only they could have subliminally nudged me towards. These mentors have come into my life naturally. They were just people who were at the right place at the right time and willing to help, nurture, encourage and provide me with tactical advice on how to achieve my goals.
And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
I have learned so much over the past two years in my career, but the last 6 months have been absolutely incredible. The company is growing, roles are being defined, and we’re on track to performing. As expected, it wasn’t always an easy ride. I have encountered (and will continue to encounter) many obstacles and challenges along the way. Having a mentor has helped me, and the entire company, navigate through the waters.
Good mentors are hard to find. Especially ones that are genuinely interested in your career, life, and overall well-being. Mentors teach you about unspoken office politics, give fantastic advice, and foster your growth, development, and forward motion in your career. They teach you how to build key relationships, how to stand up for yourself, how to make decisions that benefit not only yourself, but your entire team.
Lucky for me, I found all of this. I found someone I admire and wish to emulate. I found someone who can help me make key decisions about my life and career, someone who can move me towards my current goals. I found someone with whom I can build a long-term relationship, and is genuinely interested in me and my development. I found someone who advocates for me and my team. Someone who inspired me to perform to the best of my ability, to be innovative and creative and thoughtful. Someone who re-enforced my goals, plans, strategies, processes. I found someone who respects me — regardless of my age or professional experience or department or sass.
As a career-driven woman, I think it’s especially important that I have at least one female mentor. And mine? The most powerful, brilliant, confident, inspiring, business-minded, kind, successful, respected, don’t-take-no-shit-from-no-one, woman I know.
Last week was a rough week.
My mentor left the company. I was instantly deflated and was certain that I couldn’t go on without her guidance and support. Now who could I turn to for support? To bounce ideas off of? To help me think of things I never even considered before? To teach me and guide me and be my advocate? I’m alone!
And then she sent perfect text message: “Ok. Stop f’ing crying and get back to work. ;)”
And that’s precisely what I’ll do. I’ll take everything she’s taught me, everything I’ve learned from her, and continue moving toward my goals — get back to work. And I know she’ll be there right with me, mentoring me from afar.
The value of having someone like this in your life is priceless. These people touch something inside you that makes you dig deeper and work harder. They give you just as much encouragement as they do tough love. They all call upon you to be better, work harder and never stop pushing forward and growing in every sense of the word. Find these people in your life and stay with them; the knowledge and inspiration they will evoke could change the course of your life.
