We live in a culture obsessed with DIY success. “Self-made” is a badge of honour. But if you dig deeper into the biographies of icons, geniuses, and leaders, you’ll uncover a consistent element: mentorship.
If you don’t have a mentor, you’re probably making things harder than they need to be. If you’re experienced and accomplished, you might be withholding your most valuable gift (your time and guidance). Whether you’re just starting out or nearing mastery, the relationship of mentor and mentee is one of the most profound accelerators of growth.
Mentors See What You Can’t
The Mentor Sees Your Enemies Before You Do
The enemies we’re talking about are the obstacles to your growth — your blind spots, self-sabotage, bad habits, and the storms just over the horizon. A mentor can see these coming. They’ve been there. They’ve seen your story unfold many times before.
They See Your Greatness More Than You Do
A true mentor will never see less in you than you see in yourself. The very act of accepting a mentee is a testament to belief. They are investing their most precious asset, wisdom earned over time, into you.
You Can’t Pay a Mentor
Coaches can be hired. Advisors can be booked. Mentors choose you. They don’t advertise. They’re not selling a course. In fact, they’re often reluctant. Imagine feudal Japan: the swordmaster in the mountain does not seek students. The student must seek the master. And if the master believes in the student, he just might say yes.
The Sacred Responsibility of the Mentee
You Serve the Mentor, Not the Other Way Around
With coaches, you’re the client. With mentors, you’re the disciple. The responsibility flips. It’s your job to not waste their time. You don’t meet weekly. They won’t check in. When they give you advice, even when it’s cryptic, poetic, or ambiguous, it’s your duty to decode, synthesize, and take action. When a mentor says, “You should read this book,” your next move is to study it deeply. When you return, you don’t ask the same question. You arrive changed.
Show Respect by Acting on Wisdom
Mentors don’t need praise. What they value is your transformation. When they see that you’ve honoured their investment by applying what they gave you, they give more. The relationship builds through demonstrated evolution.
You’re Not There to Be Their Friend
Don’t confuse closeness with camaraderie. A mentor is not your buddy. They don’t need your companionship. They are playing a role in your life that deserves reverence. Keep the relationship sacred.
How to Find a Mentor (and What Happens When You Do)
The Journey Starts Internally
Before you look for a mentor in the real world, ask yourself: where in your life do you want massive success? Be honest. Then ask: could a mentor accelerate that? The moment you recognize the need, the journey begins.
Start by preparing yourself. Read books. Study biographies. Engage with the classics. These are your first mentors. You must prove to the universe (and to yourself) that you are serious. Only then, as the old saying goes, does the master appear.
Mentors Are Not Online Looking for Students
You won’t find true mentors on “how to succeed” platforms. Real mentors have already succeeded. They’re not trying to make money from you. They’re not writing clickbait threads or creating content funnels. They’re living. They’re watching. And occasionally, they’re open to sharing — but only with the right person.
The Right Mentor Can Change Everything
A true mentor can open doors you didn’t know existed. They give you better questions. They may give you an answer so profound that you spend weeks or months unpacking it. And in the process, you grow.
It’s okay to have different mentors for different areas of life. What matters is alignment: have they achieved, or helped others achieve, what you’re aiming for?
Conclusion
Look at your life. What are you striving for? Are you humble enough to seek wisdom?
Find a mentor. Study under that person. Honour their guidance. They will give you a lot, but the true power of mentors is in who you become.
