Mentor. Mensch
Task 19, May 3 TO May 10
"With careful guidance and mentorship, you will reach your highest self.” – Lailah Gifty Akita
A MENSCH, dictionary-wise, is person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose. A MENTOR is described as a sponsor or supporter. I don't like either of these definitions. Here's what a mentor and a mensch are in the real world.
A mensch is a stand-up person. A person of fundamental decency. A person you'd trust to watch over your family, or your wallet; a person who will hold your hair back when you're vomiting, and make sure you get home safely. A mensch will bail you out of jail, back you up in a bar fight, commiserate with you when your girlfriend/boyfriend runs off with your tax guy/barista, and a mensch will co-sign a loan, or a lease. Most importantly, a mensch will NOT ask for anything in return.
A mentor is a person who will make/take the time to show you how to do something that you want to do, but you don't know how to do. It's usually someone older, with more experience, but not necessarily. A mentor will be patient, kind, take all dumb questions (and say to you, "there are no dumb questions..."). Most importantly, a mentor will NOT ask for anything in return.
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I've been fortunate enough to have had one great mensch in my life. His name is Dave. He is a rock, a man I can count on. I will not embarrass him (or myself) by listing all that he has done for me over the years, (okay, one thing: when my wife went into labor at 3am and we needed someone to come over to the house to babysit until I could get back home, which turned out to be some 30 hours later, the mensch was there, although he missed work and he had family issues of his own he had to postpone...) and when I tried to thank him (which I did profusely, and often), he shrugged it off...
My mentor--his name is Mike--carried me, career-wise, when I was young and dumb. I went to work in an office that was a real shark tank. I nearly got myself fired on day #1. The reason I survived was due to the patience and selflessness of my supervisor--Mike--who would sit with me into the evenings and listen and nod and gently guide...it must have been a trial for him--I was so full of crap; and oh, over the next few years I got promoted over him and eventually he reported to me, but he didn't resent it, no--he was proud of it.
TASK:
Be a Mensch! Is there someone who needs your help? Or someone who just wants to talk? Be open! Be available! Be a mensch!
Be a Mentor! Look around you--is there some kid at your office who is bright, but clueless? Are there mentorships available in your community? Take someone under your wing! Be a mentor!