Mentors & Supporters
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a great bookstore called “2nd & Charles.” They buy, sell, and trade books, music, and video games. Outside of the front doors, 2nd & Charles has a basket of free books that anyone can browse through and take home. I normally look for reads in the areas of leadership, sociology, psychology, theology, as well as anything else that grabs my attention. After all, who doesn’t love free books?
Yesterday, I found a book by leadership sage John Maxwell hidden beneath a stack of other books. It's called Leadership Gold. In it, Maxwell says few leaders are successful unless a lot of people want them to be. Most of the people who help leaders succeed fall into two categories: mentors and supporters.
Concerning mentors, he says (I've added some examples):
Some helped me who never knew me.
Books/Biographies
Videos/Documentaries
Stories
Movies
Some who knew me never knew they helped me.
Teachers
Coaches
Employers
Pastors
Family
Friends
Some knew me and knew they helped me.
Supervisors
Coaches
Colleagues
Senior pastors
Principals
Concerning supporters, he says there are:
Time Relievers- people who save me time
Gift Complementers- people who do things I am not gifted to do
Team Players- people who add value to me and my team
Creative Thinkers- people who solve problems and give me options
Door Closers- people who complete assignments with excellence
People Developers- people who develop and raise up other leaders and producers
Servant Leaders- people who lead with the right attitude
Mind Stretchers- people who expand my thinking and my spirit
Relational Networkers- people who bring other people into my life who add value to me
Spiritual Mentors- people who encourage me in my faith walk
Unconditional Lovers- people who know my weaknesses, yet love me unconditionally
I’m going to take time to reflect on those who have mentored and supported me throughout my life. Then, I will be intentional about acknowledging them for their contributions.
What about you? Who are the people that have mentored and supported you?
"Behind an able man are always other able men [and women]." -Chinese Proverb