I asked my team to share their insights regarding the best coach or mentor they’ve ever had.  As we were discussing this I tried to reflect on who I might mention and what I might mention about them.  It was then that I realized how incredibly fortunate I am to be surrounded by a significant number of people from whom I draw strength.  I am able to meet with many different people, possessing different strengths and gifts, and find takeaways from their unique gift areas.

When you think about it, trying to find one single mentor to be your guiding sage, is like trying to find a perfect person.  This is highly unlikely.  This is also an unfair expectation.  If I approached a mentor and did not expect to find some weakness or imperfection in them as I get to know them as a close friend and advisor I am setting myself up to be disappointed.  If I tried to project the expectation that they must be perfect in order to mentor me, I am asking them for something they cannot provide, applying undue pressure.

So now that I reflect on this I have friends from which I draw influence in many areas:

• Interesting Reading
• Confident Decision Making
• Shaping Healthy Culture
• Crafting Vision
• Leading with Integrity
• Engaging Others
• Staying Positive in the Face of Challenges
• How to Be a Better Person
• How to Have a Healthy Marriage
• Parenting Advice
• Genuine Friendship
• Innovative Business Practices

Surely there are areas I am forgetting, but what an incredible list from an incredible list of friends that add so much value to my life!

The reverse is also true.  I think it is the case and generally believe it to be true, that while I am drawing strength from them, there are areas in which they draw strength from me.  Mentorship is generally thought of as a one way communication of wisdom and guidance being shared in a top down fashion.  That has been my experience in some instances, but it has also been my experience where both people benefit from the relationship.