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The Weary Mentor
I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. Galatians 4:11 (NIV)
In life, we soon find out we need guidance. No matter your career path or dream, there is always someone who has gone ahead of you and succeeded. There’s always someone with a richer experience than you. Someone who has either failed enough times to know what not to do or has succeeded enough times to know what works.
It could be in the same field, a similar field or the person may have succeeded in starting a new field or industry on their own just like you may be attempting to do. Irrespective, guidance is essential. And it is prideful not to seek guidance because you need it.
Every Mentor’s Deepest Fear
In every mentor-mentee relationship, there is that nagging fear both parties experience at the start. That fear is expressed in questions such as:
- Will I learn anything from this person?
- What do they have to offer?
- Will he take my advise?
- Is he or she teachable?
But no matter how the fear is expressed, it all boils down to this: the fear of wasted time and efforts. The mentor doesn’t want to waste time investing his experience. The mentee doesn’t want to waste his time following advice that doesn’t work.
