Y O U S T I L L N E E D A C O M PA S S E V E N I F Y O U H AV E A M A P
"A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself" -Oprah Winfrey To be an effective mentor, one needs to be acutely self-aware which lends to being proficient at reading people and be equally prepared as a mentee to be completely vulnerable. As a mentor, I have a personal responsibility to be open and honest about my own experiences, personal and professional, and successes as well as failures in effort to convey the gravity of how anyone, from anywhere, that has or needs to overcome any situation, can in fact take that journey and arrive in a place where they find peace, restoration, success, growth, whatever their defined “IT” may be. Mentors must also be prepared to be completely honest with their mentees to discuss with them candidly processes or thought patterns that may need changing. I consider it of paramount importance to be able to do this; otherwise, as a mentor, I am not being of service to my mentee. The relationship between a mentor and mentee needs to be one in which both meet as equals and experience shared on a continuous basis encouraging close support. In this relationship, both parties gain strength, the mentor by giving and the mentee by receiving the knowledge. I am a firm believer that I must give it away to keep it. Additionally, mentors need to be a consistent source of encouragement and need to refrain from imposing their personal views. The way I see it, I should be providing my mentees with a toolbox and teaching a mentee how to rely on and
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use those tools, to not just rely on me as their mentor. I refer to this as giving them the wings to fly. Also, a mentor needs to show a continuing interest in a mentee’s success; there is no destination that one arrives at, we are always a work in progress. When you are looking for a mentor, there are some important things to consider. First, it should be someone that you feel you can be comfortable with and can speak freely with, because, the truth is, the process will only be as effective as what you put into it; mentorship is a two-way street. Next, it should be someone you can turn to without fear of embarrassment with your doubts and questions. You would be wise to select someone who you have seen demonstrate what it is you are looking for, mentorship with, and upon speaking with them ensure they “walk the talk.” You may find a mentor that can provide general direction and a new perspective on just one area of your life or many. All you must do is to be willing to ask. If you would like any further information on this subject or have any questions that may be of a more specific in nature, please do not hesitate to contact me at Lysa@everwisegroup.com.
Lysa Nelson is a Mortgage Loan Advisor and Real Estate Agent residing in Southern California. Her career spans over 25 years in the mortgage industry, beginning as an escrow assistant. In her journey, she has held positions in every sector of mortgage operations, allowing her to have an in-depth grasp on the entire loan process. Eventually she worked her way into executive management as Vice President of Operations for both Countrywide Home Loans Wholesale division and Vice President of Operations for Bank of America retail division. She is currently in the process of obtaining my brokers license and is getting ready to launch her own company and brand which will be all woman-owned and operated.