This is one of three reflections nudging me as I celebrate the legacy of a dear friend who passed suddenly. I enjoy reading through old columns on the The New York Times website. One article by Jane Brody spoke to me and helped me articulate what I had in my head.
You can read it here https://lnkd.in/e_69umzn
I’ve realised: not every great speaker makes a great mentor. Mentorship is about legacy, not performance.
In today’s professional world, mentorship often looks like performance.
- It’s polished on LinkedIn.
- Powerful behind a mic.
- Even cloaked in spiritual language. (The most trending nowadays)
But when did mentorship become performance art or a checkbox feel-good action?
Mentorship is borne out of a relationship. It is consistent, continuous care for the person receiving it. It involves difficult conversations, honest communication, and correction, even when uncomfortable.
It is a vocation, not a vanity metric.
And it raises a deeper question: Should mentorship ever have an expiry date?
- History and scripture seem to answer clearly: Moses guided Joshua until his final days.
- Paul mentored Timothy with letters, correction, and encouragement, until death.
And in our modern world:
- Steve Jobs mentored Jony Ive for decades, shaping Apple’s design legacy.
- Maya Angelou mentored Oprah Winfrey, becoming her “mentor, mother-sister-friend” until her passing.
True mentorship isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t vanish when inconvenient; it transforms into a legacy.
If you’re a mentor, remember: your greatest gift isn’t knowledge for a season.
It’s guidance that lasts a lifetime.
Thanks for coming to my TED rant 😅