“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
— Isaac Newton
A life lived with a mentor does not merely show promise—it delivers on it.
In today’s fast-moving, outcome-driven world, true mentors are becoming a rare breed. And if you are fortunate enough to find one, hold on tightly. The relationship between a mentor and a mentee is the stuff legends are made of—though thankfully, modern mentors no longer ask for a thumb in return, as Guru Dronacharya once did of Eklavya.
I have been earning a paycheck for close to two decades now, but my fondest memories are not tied to titles or milestones. They are tied to enriching lives as a mentor—and being uplifted by remarkable mentors along the way.
The Origin of Mentorship
The word Mentor originates from one of the most enduring works of literature—Homer’s The Odyssey.
During Odysseus’ ten-year journey back home after the Trojan War, he entrusts the care and education of his son to a trusted companion named Mentor. At one point, Mentor even becomes a vessel for the goddess Athena, allowing her to guide Odysseus’ son with wisdom and foresight.
From this story emerge three timeless roles of a mentor:
The Regent — a trusted guardian who holds space while another is on a journey
The Elder Teacher — one who imparts wisdom drawn from lived experience
The Peacemaker — guiding the mentee toward clarity, balance, and inner peace
What fascinates me most is how Homer combined the traditionally male virtue of intelligence with the traditionally female virtue of intuition into a single character. That balance, even today, defines great mentorship.
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What a Mentor Is Not
Mentorship should never be reduced to just another label.
A mentor is not merely:
A teacher, who transfers information one way
A coach, who drills skills for performance
A friend, who walks alongside on equal footing
An elder, who guides as part of a broader social role
A great mentor may borrow elements from all four—but remains a superset of them all.
Unlike teaching, mentorship is never one-directional. Over time, both mentor and mentee learn, evolve, and grow. I can say with certainty that every time I have taken on the role of mentor, I have walked away more enlightened—shaped by fresh perspectives and honest dialogue.
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S (Sale) – Represents an insider selling shares.
C (Conversion) – Denotes the conversion of an option into company stock.
A (Award/Grant) – Indicates a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
The True Function of a Mentor
A mentor is not the one who gives answers.
A mentor is the one who asks the right questions.
Questions that probe.
Questions that unsettle.
Questions that lead you inward.
Mentorship cannot even begin until a mentor understands how the mentee learns. That is why great mentorship is built on curiosity, patience, and deep listening—more questions, fewer answers.
For this relationship to work, both parties must adopt what Zen philosophy calls a “Beginner’s Mind.”
A mentee cannot arrive as a know-it-all
A mentor cannot pretend omniscience
Neither knows where the conversation will lead—and that is precisely the magic.
How Mentorship Shapes Outcomes
Mentors help you:
Sustain laser focus on challenges
Make better choices
Navigate consequences
Discover creative solutions when hope feels distant
Reach conclusions you will carry for life
Learning through mentorship rarely follows a straight line. There are multiple paths, and mentors guide you through whichever road leads to growth.
Is There an Ideal Mentor?
Perfection may be impossible—but the closest form looks like this:
An active listener
Someone who gives honest, no-sugarcoating feedback
Specific, grounded, and realistic in advice
Humble enough to admit what they don’t know
Over time, a mentor wears many hats:
A counselor, offering perspective
A consultant, sharing domain expertise
A cheerleader, celebrating even small wins
Indian mythology offers one of the most powerful examples—Krishna and Arjuna. Their mentor-mentee bond not only altered the course of a war but gave rise to the Bhagavad Gita, a timeless guide to duty, purpose, and self-realization.
The Gift of Being Mentored
Mentorship may begin within hierarchy, but it almost always ends in friendship.
Across my years of working and learning, I have been privileged to be mentored by a few exceptional individuals. Each has enriched my life in ways I continue to carry forward. My only hope is to pay that legacy forward by lighting as many paths as I can.
The willingness to be mentored is perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves—because it requires admitting we cannot do it alone.
Even the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan, needed Scottie Pippen.
To be asked to mentor someone is an even rarer gift. Whenever I’ve had that honor, I’ve smiled more—and slept better. Mentorship is complex and delicate; done poorly, it can harm. Done right, it is among the highest forms of human connection, built on trust, openness, and courage.
Not having a mentor is to risk walking alone in the dark.
And to every mentee, I say this: Pay it forward.
In Closing
It is my wish that through mentorship, we all find:
The joy of living that shared growth brings
Greater self-awareness
The freedom that comes with understanding ourselves better
“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”
— Oprah Winfrey
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