Mentors In Print

 When you read a book on the topic of your dreams, it's as if the author is guiding you and answering your questions.

Have you ever gone on vacation to a theme park, watched a movie, or attended an event? Someone told you about it either in words or pictures. They planted a dream in your mind. The journey of life also starts with a dream.

Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft, said, “I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.” From his quote, we can conclude that his reading helped him dream big and succeed in seeing his dream come true. In other words, the authors of the books he read served as mentors that helped him from the beginning dream stage to the actualization.

A mentor is a person who advises someone else based on their previous experiences. They tell and share experiences and shortcuts. They also share insights gained from their past failures.

You can find and gain immediate access to them in person or through books, audio, or other media formats.  In the case of mentors in person, they may not be easily accessible due to proximity or affordability but may be available through printed or recorded material. In this conversation, we’re going to focus on mentors in print media.

When you go in search of knowledge by reading, you’re gathering tools for building your life. Your imagination begins to grow, and you start to paint a picture of what you want to do or be in your mind, and it fuels your dreams. Albert Einstein said, “Your imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Reading also helps you simplify your dreams because when you read a book on the topic of your dreams, it’s as if the mentor/author is guiding you and answering your questions.

Having the right tools and adequate supplies for the journey will help you do well.

Dr. Seuss said, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” So, begin reading so you can go to great places.

When you read, you gain knowledge from somebody who has gone ahead and documented the trail. It’s like having a map. It saves you time, increases your chances of arriving at your destination, and minimizes your chances of getting lost.

The great scientist, credited with discovering the law of gravity, Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” According to Wikipedia, standing on the shoulders of giants is a metaphor which means “Using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before to make intellectual progress.” That is, “discovering truth by building on previous discoveries.” The giants he’s talking about are mentors inside books written by people who have done what you hope to do.

It has been popularly said that readers are leaders. Harry S. Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

When you read, you get to learn to lead yourself first. Leading yourself well will prepare you to lead others well because, as a leader, you know and value the steps you took in gathering the essential supply for the journey. So, take the time to discover your personal leadership. A good follower soon becomes a good leader.

You don’t want to live life playing catch up. Mentorship helps you to save and maximize time. Remember that mentors are available face-to-face or in media. They can be parents and other adults who care and can point you in the right direction or in the direction you want to go.

I have benefitted from in-person mentoring and whole a lot more through books and other media through which knowledge is circulated. I continue to read and glean after authors who have gone where I want to go and documented the trail. I encourage you to start today collecting “mentor tool books” (MTB) for your life journey.

May I suggest the book “How to win friends and influence people in the digital age” by Dale Carnegie as one of the books for your MTB. In this book, the “author/mentor” documents the simple and timeless human relations principles. The book is referred to as the bestselling soul-help book in the world. In the book, you will be mentored to develop soft skills vital for every relationship in life, skills that have become a requirement in the business world. Mastering these skills will help build a better global community one person at a time.

Be a self-learner and position yourself to be mentored through books and other media that speak to your dreams and destiny, and you’ll be on your way to doing greater things.