The Mentor’s Message: Tell a Funny Story

The Mentor’s Message: Tell a Funny Story

Great mentors use effective humor, effectively. Fortunately, mentoring is not dependent on a comedic personality or most of us would be disqualified. But, knowing the construction of humor can sometimes turn a poor joke teller into someone who can bring an added sense...
The Mentor’s Message: Be the Best

The Mentor’s Message: Be the Best

When I was a boy my parents encouraged me to “be the very best.”  Back then, only the very best got a trophy!  Nowadays the Wheaties® cereal box mantra has changed to “just do your very best” and all the teams get a trophy just for playing.   It’s been a source of...
The Mentor’s Message: Honesty is not a Policy

The Mentor’s Message: Honesty is not a Policy

The Delta regional jet was packed. As the flight backed away from the gate, the flight attendant began her ritualistic safety spiel about seat belts, sudden turbulence and smoking. She ended by saying, “The flying time to Grand Rapids will be two hours…no, it will be...
The Mentor’s Message: Set Your Protege Free

The Mentor’s Message: Set Your Protege Free

“Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword. In frenzied excitement he eats up the...