Please tell us about your career mentors (average, job, company)

[Weekend Traveler]

Do you have a mentor? What have they taught you? Who are they? If you were going to be a mentor to someone in their 20s just starting out what would you say? What would be your approach?

[nicet4]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

Do you have a mentor? What have they taught you? Who are they? If you were going to be a mentor to someone in their 20s just starting out what would you say? What would be your approach?

I was working as a flight instructor, in love, wanted to get married, didn't make crap for money but one of my primary flight students owned a fire sprinkler company.

He knew I wasn't happy (flying gets old after a while) and offered me a job learning how to layout fire sprinklers.

We talked, he offered the pay that was instantly double what I was making so I jumped on it. He refused, told me to take the weekend to really think it over.

On Monday I told him I wanted to try it, he said ok on one condition. He made me promise on my honor as a man I would stick it out for six months and not quit regardless. After six months if I wanted to leave I could and no hard feelings.

I agreed, showed up for "work" a week later and after I had been there an hour I so wanted to walk out.

But I kept my word, we had shook hands on it and I had given the most important thing in my life... my word.

Over 35 years later I am still here. Been a good ride all in all.

[desertsun41]

I was always just one of the best at what I do. Until I met an older man who just finally hung up his tools to go into management. He saw what I was capable of and always pushed me to the limits. Sorta like a great sports coach.

He taught me the following:

1...If you don't push to be perfect in every thing you do then you will always be just average.

2...Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

3...Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.

These things only will work of course if you love what you do, want to be the best, greatest and 2nd to none, and dont really think of making a name for yourself in the future but to make it now.

The most important to me is I would never ever want to be just average at what I do. He taught me to burn for perfection and never anything less. What good is average?

But whatever you do learn in life that might be above and beyond, make sure you pass it down or pay it forward.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

Do you have a mentor? What have they taught you? Who are they? If you were going to be a mentor to someone in their 20s just starting out what would you say? What would be your approach?

How about you, Dingler, do you have a mentor? Why not share some of your own experiences? In the past, you used to post that you had trouble finding a job. Have you found one yet?

[desertsun41]

I thought this might be a good thread.

Guess not.

Come on everyone, have you never taken advice and capitalized on it?

No wonder we are in a very deep economic depression which will probably not end for another dozen or more years from now. No one wants to listen to anyone else who might know more.

[Huckleberry3911948]

a very loose leash but dont lie. self paced program.
on this one dont tell him what he wants to hear, or he will hate you later.
if he had wanted to be in the army he would have signed up, you are a cheap 2nd.
remember he is utterly unwilling to do what you went thru to get where you are.
if you are a winner, this is true about most people you are guna meet in your life.