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How to Level Up Your Life: The Golden Rule of Mentors

Have you ever had a question about something you’re learning, a hobby you love, or even just life in general? Sometimes, the best way to find an answer is to ask someone who’s been there before. These people are called mentors, and they can be a huge help!

But there’s a secret to getting the most out of a mentor: Don’t ask too much, or too often.

The Golden Rule 🌟

Imagine you have a magic card you can use to ask for advice. You only get one or two uses of the card each year with each person. So, you want to make your questions count!

Here’s the rule: “The golden rule is to never ask too much or too often. I’ll ask one to two specific questions and then make a mental note to not ask anything again for at least a year.” Juliet Funt

This shows respect for their time and makes them more likely to want to help you in the future.

You Don’t Need Just One Guru 🧙‍♀️

Sometimes, we think we need one person to teach us everything. But that’s not how it works! Think of it like a team of superheroes. Each superhero has a different power. You don’t need one person to have all the powers; you need different people who are really good at different things.

“You don’t need one person to teach you everything. You need honest voices, each offering what they know.” Juliet Funt

Your math teacher might be your mentor for tricky homework, while your art teacher helps with your drawing skills. Your older cousin might be great at giving advice on friendships. It’s okay to have different mentors for different things!

Lessons, Not Mistakes 😅

Sometimes, you might ask a mentor a question, and they don’t have the answer. That’s okay! As the famous writer Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” It means that making mistakes is a part of being human. No one knows everything, and it’s not a big deal if they can’t help with one specific thing.

Another writer, Norman Cousins, said, “The essence of man is imperfections.” This means that being imperfect is what makes us human. We’re all learning and growing, including the people we look up to.

So, if a mentor can’t help with something, don’t worry about it. Forgive them for not knowing everything, and go find another “honest voice” to help you out. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn even more!

Think of it this way, using the “Rules for Being Human” from John C. Maxwell:

  • You will learn lessons. Every experience, good or bad, is a chance to grow.
  • There are no mistakes – only lessons. When things don’t go as planned, it’s not a failure, but a clue to what you need to learn next.
  • A lesson is repeated until it is learned. If you find yourself facing the same problem over and over, it means there’s a lesson there you haven’t quite mastered yet.
  • If you don’t learn the easy lessons, they get harder. It’s better to learn from small hiccups now than from big ones later.
  • You will know you have learned a lesson when your actions change. The real test of learning isn’t just knowing something new—it’s doing something different.

So, when a mentor can’t help, see it as a lesson. It’s a chance for you to grow, learn, and find another piece of the puzzle. It’s all part of the journey to becoming the best version of yourself.

#Mentorship #CareerGrowth #Learning #Teens #Kids #Advice #Lifelessons

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