Mentorship ~ Whose Voice Will You Listen To?
The world is full of mentors, just look around you.
I didn’t always have the wisdom to recognize them nor had the humility to learn from them. Everyone has a measure of pride, stubbornness or arrogance. I had my fair share of them too.
Whose voice inspires you? Whose voice are you listening to? Whose voice is going to make the difference in your life in 2011? It is up to you.
Mentors are very vital to achieving our life’s dream. You will never reach your dream without a mentor in your life. Without them we won’t get to enjoy the journey talk less of getting there.
A Mentor is someone that has walked the path you are about to embark on and they can hold you accountable to achieving what you set out to do.
I mentioned in this post how Bomi of Jollynotes.com helped me when I started Bukville. With little knowledge about blogging, after stalking her blog for weeks I reached out to her and she gave me priceless advice and encouragement.
I spent a lot of my time reading Jollynotes and seeing how she interacts with her followers. I saw that she really did care and it showed thru their banter. I love that she was also using her platform to share the good news in a nice and friendly way.
I have tried to incorporate that in my blog also, while still being me. One of the lessons she taught me was how she focuses much more on the ministry and relationship building aspect rather than posting a lot of posts. Which will leave her little or no time to get to know her followers.
I have seen and reap the benefits of those advices; sometimes less is more and I am enjoying combining blogging, with my marriage, raising our children and still being a “Desperado after God”.
Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight.
Different Types Of Mentors
Mentors come in different forms, they can be people you can reach out to or from a distance, and mentors can be alive or dead. Mentors can be in form of a book also. Mentors can be older and younger and you don’t necessary have to be friends.
Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction. -John Crosby
Mentors are needed in all areas of our lives. There are 4 key areas that you will need mentorship for. Regardless of how many degrees and PHD you have acquired, these are areas our educational system missed out on.
They Are As Follows;
Spiritual Life – A life without spiritual guidance is a life full of struggles. In every one of us there is a yearning for something, without which there is emptiness. We are all searching for it, that which is called God. Whether you admit it or not, your life is missing something. Even after you have committed your life to Christ you will need mentoring to keep fighting the good fight of faith and to finish strong.
Marital Life – Majority of us will be married and even if you choose not to be you will still need to learn how to be in a relationship. At some point we will all some kind form relationship with people, no man is an island. If you are alive and living then you will need to find someone to mentor you on how to have a successful marriage. Not everyone is fortunate to have those mentors in their parents, and if that is not the case for you-Whose voice and mentorship will you need to help redefine marriage for you and help you to live a happily married life?
The partner you choose to walk the journey thru life can either bring the best out of you or make you bitter. Choose wise mentors to hold your hands.
Financial Life – One of the most attributed reasons for divorce and depression is not having financial education. Having an accounting background does not prepare you for real life. I know too many accountants in debt, and not qualified to give advice to you and I. I also know many highly paid professionals that are bankrupt. There are certain lessons and habits we have inherited from our parents that are not sound financial doctrine that you need not adopt for your future. Who is going to champion you into financial success this year?
Career Life – I choose to call it “calling”. Years ago when I was trying to discover what my passion was. A change in the word from “career to calling” gave me an epiphany and I had a breakthrough. Whose mentorship will it require to take your career or calling to the next level? Whose mentorship can you not afford to do without this year? Which author is going to make a difference to your library of books this year?
Information is so readily available these days that ignorance is absolutely inexcusable.
In part 2 I will share with you mentors that have made a difference in my life and how easy and practical it is to apply their wisdom.
Hi Buky, How are you doing? I am fine.
Thank you for another great post, just like you I didnt have the humility to learn from others.
Because of this i have made a lot of mistakes that are not necessary. Lately though I have been evaluating my life and I have seen how important it is to have mentors in my life. Your post just reiterate that for me now, so timely and to the point.
Hi Alison,
Thank you for your honesty, when we know better we do better.
The past is in the past now, lets move into the future and find that mentor that will help you to achieving your life dream. In part 2 I will be sharing some mentors with you and I hope you will be able to use my examples as a guide.
First thing you need to decide is, which area of your life do you need mentoring and what do you hope to get out of it?
Stay blessed sister.
The area I really do need a mentor is marital life. My parents are great but they are not the examples i want to follow. I have an idea of what kind of marriage i want but how do i find mentors in this area? Any idea or suggestion?
Thank you as always, great post
Dolapo, thank you for your comment. I am glad that you have identify the area you need mentoring. Look for people in your community or church, they can even be your friend’s parent that you admire their marriage.
I will also advice you to invest in great marriage book but well known authors that have been married for decades.
Buky, I really enjoyed reading this – lots of great stuff in here, I think we certainly can all learn from. I have bookmarked this post and I am certainly looking forward to part 2. Thank you once again for your extremely kind words – Thank you so much! May we all continually learn from and encourage each other, amen.
I know God will continue to lead and guide and direct us all as we take each step.
Looking forward to part 2:)!
Much Love,
Bomi
Bomi, Thank you so much, you certainly gave me grate advise that I am so thankful for. Because of you my blogging experience has been amazing, cheers!!!
Hi bukky,thanks u so much for a great post and i will be looking forward to part 2 of this post.For me the areas i will need mentors are spiritual life and marital life,it is really good to have mentors in ones life.
Yemmy, Hello Lady! Those are 2 important areas and I will really encourage you to seek out mentors in those areas.
When i was single, it was important to me that my future husband was more advance than me in the spiritual area. I am truly enjoying having a husband that can help guide in that area. Along with finding a local church and being committed to the vision of the leadership of the church.
Look around you, there are many great marriage. Next time you are around couples that you admire their marriage, ask them questions. You will be amazed how helpful they will be.
Great Post, Buky .I agree with Bomi advising you, to focus much more on the ministry and relationship building aspect rather than posting a lot of posts. I had made this decision, from the start of the year on my blog and have seen more repeat readership and comments and I am building relationships with great people.God Bless you and keep up the good work, I can tell that you mean business. :)I look foward also to Part 2.
Faithlounge, I am so glad that i listened to Bomi’s advice. I have met the most wonderful people, that are so genuine and serious about living the life they truly desire. I never expected that initially, i am so blessed.
Thanks Carole for being one of them and your blog truly refreshes me.
hello bukyhow are you?we cant undermine the importance of having mentors because one is able to gain quite a lot from their wealth of experience. one is also accountable to them and this ensures we take responsibility for our actions.thanks for sharing this article.take care of yourself and enjoy the rest of the day
Ayo, having mentors in my life have saved me from making repeated mistakes and put me ahead of my game.
Another great post! reading your post it’s such an inspiration! i’ve leant so much since i started following your blog,but the most important thing was just THE LIST!!! it helped me so much: redefining my goals, schedules and everything…..so aunty Buky, i think you are one my mentor! thank you so much for what you are doing here.
lot of love!
Minimaguime, awhahahah. Thank you so much. I pray that God will continue to use me to be an inspiration.
I am glad that you are able to apply these information and I pray that you will start to see great results.
Hi Bukky,
Great post. We all need mentors in our life and it is very beneficial to have that person that you can go to, who will help and guide you in whatever way you may need guidance. Looking forward to part 2.
Folashade,
Yes, mentors sure makes the difference!
When I saw this post, I thought, did you read the mind of the Guest Minister we invited to my Church this past week. Mentorship was his exact topic “Who have you been listening to.”As a matter of fact, this last year, my Church implemented a marriage program because of marriages issues in our community today. Mentorship is a great thing to implement in any area of our life.
2minds – Isn’t that amazing? I dont believe in coincidences. It reminds me of this scripture Ps62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth to God.
You church is doing a great job, we must never stop learning. I am still learning from great people in my life.
I love this, Mentorship is a big issue that can’t be underestimated at all, in all areas , we need people that will lead us and teach us by example in all areas .Sister mi , you are one mentor God intentionally brought into my life to bless me , i will never take that for granted.
Tolu,
Thank you, you have been an inspiration to me and I thank God that you showed up sister! Love you lots!