I've had a few monitors in my life, when I'm with the right one, yes. This. When I go on and de-ment (haha) realizing I've become a mentor... Something that occurs to me now was what my role had been in leadership (and one I didn't consciously seek) and running my cafe.
I also think the dearth of tough love in society has created a vortex of self doubt and anxiety. I've been the recipient of a whole spectrum of love, and I think I dole out a tough, exacting but tender, expansive kind of love to people I work with. My former staffers seem to be confirming this- and there's plenty too I can think of that I was not a good mentor for. But the ones I was ... They taught me just as much.
Thank you, Bee! It's been interesting for me to go from these experiences I've been describing with Michael to being a mentor for other people. I appreciate what you said here about balancing the tough and exacting with the tender and expansive love. I'm still finding my way with being on the mentor side of things, and I know I have a long way to go.
I agree that the best mentors are the reluctant ones. In the case of Michael, much of his reluctance seems to come from his humility, which has been a great thing to model.
He asked me last week if people really care about this stuff I'm writing about him and our relationship. Thanks for commenting and making clear that people are in fact reading!
"finally operating on all cylinders"
I've had a few monitors in my life, when I'm with the right one, yes. This. When I go on and de-ment (haha) realizing I've become a mentor... Something that occurs to me now was what my role had been in leadership (and one I didn't consciously seek) and running my cafe.
Great stuff Chris. Potent parallels!
I think the best mentors are the reluctant ones.
I also think the dearth of tough love in society has created a vortex of self doubt and anxiety. I've been the recipient of a whole spectrum of love, and I think I dole out a tough, exacting but tender, expansive kind of love to people I work with. My former staffers seem to be confirming this- and there's plenty too I can think of that I was not a good mentor for. But the ones I was ... They taught me just as much.
Thank you, Bee! It's been interesting for me to go from these experiences I've been describing with Michael to being a mentor for other people. I appreciate what you said here about balancing the tough and exacting with the tender and expansive love. I'm still finding my way with being on the mentor side of things, and I know I have a long way to go.
I agree that the best mentors are the reluctant ones. In the case of Michael, much of his reluctance seems to come from his humility, which has been a great thing to model.
He asked me last week if people really care about this stuff I'm writing about him and our relationship. Thanks for commenting and making clear that people are in fact reading!