I’m doing an AMA over at Designer News, and someone asked “How do seek out mentors/teachers?”
My answer:
I’ve never sought out mentors or teachers, because I think they are plentiful and all around us. The person who you think has all the answers probably has far fewer than you think.
I observe. When I walk into a small retail store, I observe how they do business. What’s working, what isn’t? How do they treat employees? Customers? Their merchandise? What can I learn from them at this moment?
When I get my hair cut I observe the salon. Who’s there? Why? If I had an appointment at 3:30, but it’s still 3:50 and I’m waiting, what’s that feel like? How does it feel to be on time and then have someone else who’s not on time? How does it feel to pay for something? To tip? When? How?
When I go to a restaurant I observe. How is the food presented. How does the server communicate? How’s the menu written? How’s the lighting? Is it sufficient to read the menu? Do I have to ask twice for things, or do things just show up on time before I have to ask? What happens if I have a substitution request – how do they handle that? Is it a burden for them or a pleasure to serve? Are they pushy or comfortable? How do I feel about being there?
Every moment is a teaching moment. You don’t have to wait to be taught anything. Don’t delay learning because you haven’t found that magic teacher yet. Everyone, and everything, is a teacher.
Samuel
on 11 Aug 15I do this everywhere I go. My problem is I can get stuck in my head.
Talking to others about my observations makes them more objective.
Who do you talk to when you need another perspective?
Jason Fried
on 11 Aug 15I bounce lots of ideas off other people. Whoever’s around, whoever I think might have insight or a different perspective on it. I don’t worry too much about finding the perfect person – just presenting an idea or asking a question of anyone is often valuable.
Wesley
on 11 Aug 15This title do pain.
Joe
on 11 Aug 15I realized that listening to successful people describe lessons they observed about others (not just taught) often gets more interesting answers than when they describe themselves.
It’s difficult for people to describe what makes them successful. Ask a top athlete how they do that thing they do, they might describe mechanics. Ask them what they observed their hero does, and answers are much more vivid.
An example from sport, but read about how one of the world’s best soccer players learnt his technique. Much more interesting than telling you about his own technique.
Randy Oest
on 11 Aug 15Glad to see that my question merited an answer on the blog. :-)
Drew Haines
on 11 Aug 15Great answer. So many ‘startup founders’ around me think you need to find the right mentor and they will have some golden piece of advice.
The truth is, it’s like fitness. The secret is ‘eat right and exercise more’ (which isn’t actually a secret!). There are no shortcuts. Same in business. The secret is learn more and keep working at it.
Being observant and having your own opinion >>>>> Mentors I felt like I did a lot of ‘relationship management’ with many mentors I was introduced to. The advice they have is great, but the value they add for the time you give them is not very much.
It’s better to surround yourself with those people naturally. You are you 5 best friends ;)
Julian Summerhayes
on 12 Aug 15Jason, I too don’t think we need to look for someone with a perceived skill set we don’t have. Instead, as hackneyed as it sounds, we need to stay curious - which is what you’re alluding to - and look for signals, feelings and new ideas that make us reconsider our worldview. I think too many people stay rooted in a paradigm they think is secure… in giving them what they want, but, in the end, it holds them back emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.
Julian
T
on 14 Aug 15We all need to read lots of biographies.
adela
on 17 Aug 15The truth is, it’s like fitness. The secret is ‘eat right and exercise more’ (which isn’t actually a secret!). There are no shortcuts. Same in business. The secret is learn more and keep working at it. Cao dang duoc ha noi
adela
on 17 Aug 15Every moment is a teaching moment. Xe honda city You don’t have to wait to be taught anything.
This discussion is closed.