Why you need a mentor

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school

It was my sister’s convocation at the University of Lagos (Unilag), Akoka and I needed to grace the occasion as a member of the family. Usually, convocations at Unilag are strenuous. There would be no entry or exit of commercial cars so as to curb the immense traffic within the school premises as it is always congested by students, grandaunds, visitors and well-wishers.

As a result of this, most people are bound to walk to their various tents or venues in the school and this can be really exhausting especially for ladies who wear high heel shoes. As if that is not enough, the traffic that queues up to the school may stretch as far as kilometres away from the school. Yet this is inevitable for anyone coming to the school. A truly strenuous experience!
Consequently, my fate was sealed as I had no choice than to honour my sister. More so, I needed to represent my Dad and brother who were out of the country at the time. Knowing it would be a very hectic day, I made up my mind to bear the pain.

So, as I set out for Unilag, barely 15 minutes into the journey, an Uncle who had arrived at school called to ask my whereabouts. I replied telling him I had just left the house and immediately, he suggested to me saying, “Tosin, once you get to Yaba, make sure you don’t board a bus otherwise you will get stuck in traffic. Instead, mount a motorcycle straight down to the school gate and then trek in and call me.”
Wow! What an insight! I thought. I was so elated and relieved because he was already at the venue so he must have experienced the traffic on his way to school and he did not want me to share the same fate. So I obeyed his instruction.

However, I beat the traffic and I was saved from stress, frustration and a total waste of time. I felt pity seeing others trapped in traffic as I moved ahead on the motorbike. More saddening was that most of them had left much earlier than I did and had been stuck. I was so thankful in my heart, having my steps ordered and so I spent less than an hour on a journey that could have taken more than 3 hours due to the situation.
Now, here’s my point; If my Uncle who had gone ahead of me did not lend me his advice concerning the problem awaiting me, I would most likely have been stuck in the traffic as well. But by virtue of his experience, I had my narrow escape.

How else do I describe Mentorship? Finding a mentor who has trailed your path or has achieved what you intend to achieve in order to guide your footsteps in life cannot be overemphasized. A mentor is anyone who is wise and trusted and can teach or guide you through your route in life.
Everyone will surely make mistakes in life but there is no rule that says those mistakes have to be yours. Leverage on the counsel of others. Experience, they say is the best teacher but it doesn’t have to be your experience that teaches you neither do you have to waste your life falling where others fell. To stumble against the same stone as your predecessors did is a proverbial mistake.

If you really want to sail smoothly and surpass your contemporaries, find a mentor. Moses mentored Joshua, Elijah mentored Elisha, and Jesus mentored the twelve. It is a requirement for success!
Nonetheless, technology advancement has made it easier for us. Hence, you don’t have to be with someone to be mentored by them. Listen to tapes, watch videos and read books of people you aspire to be like. Tap and learn from their wealth of knowledge and experiences. By reading the scriptures, people are unconsciously getting mentored by Jesus, Paul the Apostle and the like. You could also have people you admire in history mentor you by researching about them. Mentorship makes your life easy and puts you ahead of the pack.


Isaac Newton nailed this point thus, “If I have seen further in life, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” It’s time to find your own giant! You have greatness within you!


 

Author: Tosin Imhogiemhe

Tosin Imhogiemhe is an Amazon Best-selling Author, Emotional Intelligence Expert, Toastmaster, Blogger and Performance Consultant whose oratorical bent has endeared him to Schools, Churches, NGOs and Corporate Organisations. His resourcefulness, vibrancy and ingenuity are assets he employs in addressing topics on Personal development.

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