A Personal Story by Alex Gandel
A big key to success in any aspect of life is having positive mentorship. From Aristotle, who was famously influenced by his mentor, Plato, to Oprah Winfrey, who was mentored by Maya Angelou, many who have made an impact on this world have often been impacted by a mentor figure. I know for myself, mentors have played a significant role in my life, and their impact on me is still felt to this day.
There have been five mentors who have profoundly affected me – these five mentors vary in terms of their backgrounds and the type of success they’ve achieved, but all five share a common thread – they taught me something or imparted wisdom that I’ve been able to incorporate into my daily life.
One of the most impactful people that I’ve ever known was an incredibly giving and honest marine. He was retired, a little older (when I knew him), and he was a very successful businessman. I remember one day he and I were getting lunch near his office in Sherman Oaks and outside we saw a homeless veteran sitting outside with a bottle of alcohol. He was drunk, homeless, and down on his luck. After my friend/mentor saw this man, he excused himself from the table and went outside. I don’t know what he told this homeless veteran, but what I do know is that he brought the man inside to sit with us and he treated him like a human, with dignity and respect. Over the next several years, my mentor helped this man get out of homelessness, and he employed him to be his driver and personal assistant. When my mentor passed away several years ago, this man was there at the funeral, and we grieved together.
In this circumstance, I saw my mentor, who wasn’t obligated to help this person he just met, and instead of doing nothing he decided to change this man’s life. At that moment, I learned something about empathy and compassion in action that has stuck with me ever since.
Mentors come in all shapes and from all walks of life, and even though the mentor I mentioned was successful, a mentor doesn’t necessarily need to be a successful person to make a difference in a person’s life. A mentorship dynamic is formed when someone is open to learning and growing, not just in their craft, but also in life. And that openness starts with being truthful and honest with oneself and others, acknowledging where one needs improvement, and being diligent in learning from others.
Mentorship can come to pass through a long-standing relationship, or it may just last for a short period of your life. For me, I’ve been blessed with mentors that have spoken into my life for decades, and I’ve had mentors that have only been in my life for a short chapter. The impact that a mentor can have on a person’s life often lasts long after that person is gone. There should be no finish line to your growth path, and it needs to start with being open to learning.
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