Sitting down with my sponge-like mentee, Belle (and now amazing intern) on Friday, I posed a serious question to her.
Why don’t you take on your own mentee?
A little taken aback initially, Belle quickly responded with “maybe when I’ve been doing this for a little while longer”.
As part of Belle’s development, I often challenge her to put herself out of her comfort zone. In my personal opinion, when pushed, Belle has delivered time and time again with amazing results.
After answering an advertisement for an intern, Belle went from being my mentee to a huge part of the success of my business so far and we’re just getting warmed up!
In the process, she has developed skills that any young person could benefit from and desperately need in this day and age.
Freshly graduated from her Marketing and Comms degree at Melbourne Uni, Belle is of Taiwanese background, is fiercely independent and has lived in other parts of the world by herself.
That in itself is hugely character building and a super valuable skill to share with someone that dreams of travelling but has never left the country for example.
In the process of pushing Belle, it actually creates an accountability mindset for me.
It forces me to push myself further and not sit on my laurels.
It forces me to continue to read, watch, listen and learn more and more so that I can empower myself with knowledge to share, but to also be a source of information for those that want it.
Belle will tell you firsthand that she really felt like she had drawn the short straw when it came to mentors.
I never finished high school, let alone University and I certainly never studied Marketing and Comms. But after a little while, Belle warmed to my unorthodox style and her feedback since is now very complimentary.
The reason I share this with you is simple.
You have skills, knowledge, life experience, battle scars, traumas, humour, sadness, death and life to share with someone that needs just exactly what you’ve been through.
Don’t let it die inside you.
Share it and improve yourself at the same time.