Quality education doesn’t always have to take place in schools, nor does it have to have a degree to be valid. Some of the most thoroughly educated people who are successful in life have no formal education; instead they have drawn knowledge and skills from others. On the other hand, there is no such thing as “self-education” to be successful. After all, who knows enough to educate himself? The truly successful people know they have not been self-educated. They have been mentored, either in person or by reading or association, by superior minds with greater skills and matured spirits. True success is more often caught than taught by those who are willing to go through the processes of mentoring, which involves thinking, feeling, observing, and doing … under the guidance of someone who has already walked down the path. By his superior experience and vision, a mentor is able to help us get to where we are willing to go. An experienced mentor can see things from a distance and give us the proper perspective. He can fill in the gaps of our ignorance. In mastering any new task, a good mentor can guide us through the complicated processes, help us avoid pitfalls, and warn us about the dangers. Do you know any successful person who doesn’t have a mentor? Look, for instance, at the story of Warren Buffet, the richest investor in the world---a billionaire many times over. When Buffet was a senior in college, he read a book called The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, perhaps the greatest investment advisor of the 20th century. For Buffet, reading this book was an eye-opener into the world of stock-market. When Buffet learned that Graham was teaching at Columbia University, he enrolled there, studied under Graham, and received a Master’s Degree in economics. After graduation, Buffet attempted to work at Benjamin Graham’s investment firm (even offering to work for free). After several rejections of Buffets’ appeal, Graham finally agreed to hire him three years later. So Buffet was able to spend the next two years being mentored by the famous investment guru. At the age of 25 Buffet returned home to Omaha, Nebraska, and launched the Buffet Associates, with seven investors. Buffet’s original stake was $100. But within five years, Buffet was a millionaire and on his way to becoming the most well-known stock market investor in history. If you want to achieve success, you must be mentored, if possible, by a master or several masters. Usually, the apprenticeship is two years or longer. You will want to absorb their wisdom, learn from their experiences, study what they studied or are studying, and even meet their contacts. That way you can learn to think like they think and obtain the results that they are obtaining. This is the quickest, safest, and easiest way to blaze forth with your own dream. Remember, you’re seeking more than information; you want a mentoring relationship---someone who can coach you to success. Mentors are not always easy to find because they are usually very busy people pursuing their own goals. Initially, your request for mentorship may be rejected. But if they are impressed by your seriousness, commitment, and teachable spirit, they will eventually recognize your value and will want to help you to achieve your goals. Over the years, I had the privilege of been mentored by two great souls. The first one was Dr. T. Isaac John, a well-respected executive official with the Government of India, who later founded Asian Christian Academy, Bangalore, in 1978. My up-close observation of Dr. John’s strong work-ethic, his drive for excellence, and his exceptional ability to influence others had a profound impact in my life (I had the honor of literally holding on to him till his last breath). My second mentor was Dr. Stanley D. Toussaint, who has a great analytical mind which is still razor-sharped even at age 86. He was a very academically brutal mentor who never spared me with an easy time. No, he didn’t teach me content; but he showed me how to do critical thinking on my own. Having been mentored for years and having mentored others for quite some time, I’d like to make five recommendations: First, find a mentor in the field of your interests. Second, accept a subordinate, learning position. Be willing to let your mentor expose your shallowness and dismantle your defense mechanism. For example, I’d say to anyone who asked for my mentoring, “If you want me to say only nice things about you, don’t expect me to serve as your mentor.” Third, let your mentor know that you have made a decision for progress, that he is dealing with a persistent person---a determined winner---so that he knows he isn’t wasting his time. Fourth, ask your mentor to help you ask the right questions and do things that will help you succeed. Fifth, put into effect immediately what you are learning. As a Chinese proverb puts it, “A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.” So, remember the need to have a mentor. It is an essential part of leveraging you towards greater success.
