In the quiet of my house I started to think of the people that have asked me for help this year.

THIS YEAR has been an amazing year for me and I’ll be blogging about that later.

But I wanted to talk about mentoring and what our concepts are about it.

First I want to say, I personally don’t like the word mentor. I consider myself a friend and someone who cares enough to spend time helping others develop into an awesome amazing photographer or person!

But when you think about it, if we all just open up our eyes we are being mentored every day, by things around us and things we expose ourselves to. All of that is creating the people we are and who we will be.

So, when you set out looking for someone to “mentor” you, what do you look for? What do you do?

In our internet generation it’s pretty easy to find people to talk to about what you want to do, find people of common interest and search out what you feel you need. Some people feel the internet is a waste of time but I see it as a vast open field of amazing things to explore and place to go. I guess it’s all in how you think and how big your mind is.

I asked on my facebook “When you think of Mentoring…what do you think of?

Here are a few of the responses:

I agree and would like to add that a mentor is someone who inspires you and you look up too. They are someone whom you would like to mimmic in some way. They may a dream or goal visual, tangible and obtainable for one to achieve. The show you the path to take and keep you on track. Mentors come in many forms and professions; teacher, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, pastors, ministers, saints, professional, students, couples both young and old and even children. They are all someone we can learn from and admire. Most importantly, a mentor is someone who is humble and acknowledges the fact that no one is an expert per-se they and we still all have room to grow and learn. Anyone who believes themselves to know it all, still has much to learn.

This is what a mentor means to me.

Have a great day, Lisa and all my photog buddies, you are all someone I mentor as I continue grow in the photog world. Anita Johnson
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Someone who helps me. Shows, then lets me practice and gives feedback. Mary Ann Drawl
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A Mentor is someone that knows you well enough, and you know them well enough, that you can make a mistake and say “What did I do wrong?” without fear of being judged or laughed at….unless it was really funny goofup!

A Mentor is also someone that you accept criticism from without it being personal. James Smith
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I agree with all that’s been stated…We share in CCAG….we mentor each other , weather we’ve been at our craft a year or many years.as ppl in general we mentor each other daily in our actions and attitudes….to inspire someone to find their inner most self and express it in what ever way suits their spirit! We mentor each other even when we dont know we’re doing it ! HUh go figure… Life is wonderful! Patti Becher

I love these examples and these people!

Now the reason this topic came up is because I’ve been mentoring a few people who:

a) feel they need to correct my advice. (then why ask me?)

b) want me to hand them everything that I have worked for and worked hard to earn in the past years.

c) total space cadets who are just looking for a way to (I hear this way too often) Make money!

If you are lucky enough to find someone who will take time to help you and not charge you for that expertise, then you should consider yourself very very lucky.

NEVER expect anything to be handed to you, that is not the role of a mentor. Mentor’s are to guide you, direct you and push you in the right directions and sometimes a mentor’s job is to let you go and let you experience life for yourself. But a mentor is NEVER to hand over years of hard work at the drop of a hat to make your life easier.

If you want it, you’re going to have to work for it, like I did, like others that are around me have. You’re going to have to search the internet and join forums and ask, and most of all you’re going to have to LISTEN!

When it comes to listening most people don’t have a clue. I believe the 21st century is all about whining, really, Stop crying about how hard it is, what you can’t do, what you don’t have and get out there and make it happen.

I shot my first wedding with a Canon Elan, yes a film camera. I got paid 200 dollars and… I did okay. Was it good or great, no, but I was honest with two people. Myself and my client and everything was great. I did not spout off to be a professional I was honest, I was starting out and I did what I had to do and I took my lumps while I did it also.

I slowly grew to where I am today and I’m still growing and I don’t plan on stopping… I have goals and plans and dreams like anyone else.

So if you are being mentored… take the advice you are given and do something with it and never expect to be handed anything.

If you’re in it for the money… do me a favor… get out. It takes a while for that boat to dock and you’ll burn out far too soon before the money rolls in.

Now go find your mentor and send them a nice email, card or something nice. They don’t have to help you, but they do because they are good people.

Good people are sometimes hard to find. Treasure them when you find them.

Oh and I don’t mean my clients..I’m good! But I really mean for everyone else… go hug your mentor today! They help you find your passion and desire and direct you to what you should and should not be doing. Listen to them, their advice is sage wisdom and you won’t find it too many other places.

Be well…

Yes, it’s a Christmas bulb, but I liked it and wanted to share!