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MENTORS CREATING AWARENESS
“Great mentors
have that unique ability to read the heart, soul and mind of a
person and put it in to words AND on paper.”
Successful
leaders and “real” players know themselves inside and out,
appreciate teammates who are different than they are, and have the
unique ability to adjust and win in any situation. They empower
people to be who they are and give steady direction toward the end
result.
When people
know and understand themselves, all their strengths will surface.
Understanding your “blind spots” is paramount. This is nothing more
than you seeing yourself like others see you. One, there are things
you know about yourself that others know, and you are comfortable
with it. Two, there are things you know about yourself, that others
will never know, and you are comfortable with that. We all have
skeletons in our closest, but we learn to live with them. I had to
build another closest. Three, there are all the “blind spots” that
prevent us from being what we can be. Four, there is the
sub-conscious mind; so powerful that it doesn’t know what is real
and what is imagined and is influenced by the first three. Knowing
and understanding all four allows us to live, train, compete and
execute with a “clear head”.
Good mentors
adapt to a person’s behavioral style. The style of the mentor is not
near as important as the mentor adapting to other peoples’ styles.
When people sense you have a passion for what you do, and you
“really care” about them, you will be able to maximize their
potential.
Mentoring is
all about creating an awareness; an awareness of how life and the
mind work, an awareness of assets and liabilities, an awareness of
assets and liabilities that others see in you that you do not see in
yourself and finally an awareness of “where am I @ this moment in my
life and career?” Mentors raise your curiosity and cause you to
think. Our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area does this for every
player. This is our primary goal. Players begin to improve when
they are able to critique, and see in themselves, what others see.
Sharing our
trade secrets is the most positive way to mentor young people. The
idea of “giving back” and “sharing concepts” defines a true mentor.
There is nothing like instilling character, ethics and decision
making skills in young players. There are too many “formal mentors”
in the world. Mentoring isn’t a title. We need to get to a level
where “informal mentors” do what they do because they want a daily
diet of interacting with those they care for and they do it out of
love for the person, the game and life. The same holds true for
leaders.
It all comes
down to defining your beliefs and then showing those in your care
that you are “real and passionate” about your life and work.
Examine, evaluate and determine your “real beliefs” and always tell
it like it is. This way you will never be put in a position to
remember what you say.
Everyone needs
mentors; from CEO’s and leaders of companies down to every single
employee in the company. Every person needs to learn, grow and
become more than what we are. Change is inevitable. We all need
someone who has been down the road and want to help us get where we
want to go; not where we “think we want to go, but really want to
go.”
The speeches @
the beginning of the season are great and so is that first visit
with those who are in your care. If there is no steady follow-up,
that speech and visit are meaningless and forgotten in a very short
time. Lasting effects are the goal of every good mentor so follow-up
is important.
“Responsibility is accepting what needs to be done; accountability
is doing what needs to be done!”
I don’t know
of an experience in life that teaches us more about ourselves than
mentoring others. We learn something from every mentoring
experience. “Real people” are always willing to share their
thoughts, ideas and beliefs. They are not “role players responding
to the environment of the moment”. They do what they want, and feel
like doing, based on their beliefs, morals and convictions. They do
not worry about changing with the environment of the situation and
they do not look over your shoulder to make contact with a more
important person in the room or setting.
Most great
mentors have been down the road and they have maintained a
curiosity
about life that enables them to grow. They have a tremendous passion
for life, the game and the future of others. Some are former
players and will not be one of those ex-players resigned to sitting
around, drinking beer, playing cards and telling old "war stories".
They are going to have a worthwhile experience to talk about every
single day of their life as a mentor.
There are no
secrets to success. You will never hear a successful player say, "I
lived my life for myself, I slept in everyday, I am a couch potato,
I didn't train and I live to drink beer with my buddies. In
addition, I have zero energy, no real interests, I am unethical,
lethargic, have zero vision, have been accused of narcissism and
guess what? I just landed in the NHL because I was drafted or
someone thought I was a decent free agent.”
You will hear
them say,
“I am a detail
person and I care about others. I have always put the welfare of
those I care about ahead of any personal gain. I am finding more
success by sharing than I would have by standing alone.”
- Ole Gringo -
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