January is National Mentoring Month, how are you celebrating it? National Mentoring Month was created in 2002 to focus national attention in the United States on the need for mentors. I try to write at least one article in celebration of the occasion. But this year, I have struggled with what to write. A few years ago, I did something different when I profiled Napoleon Hill's invisible counselors, who are the same as invisible mentors.

Some of my greatest mentors have been the books I read. As most of you know, I enjoy reading. And I usually have a list of books that I know I am supposed to read. But somewhere along the journey, I am constantly taking detours. Usually, I'll read the same number of books that I commit to reading. But not all titles I committed to. I plan to announce a reading challenge in my Facebook group. In past challenges, I'd include the names of books to read. But at the end of the challenge, some of the books I ended up reading, weren't be the same ones I said I'd read.

Have you read?

January is National Mentoring Month
Mentoring Quotes for National Mentoring Month
Create Your Board of Mentors – January is National Mentoring Month
Reading Globally: The Invisible Mentor 2015 Reading Challenge

This year will be a little different?

I plan to write four books this year. Two of them, I know the information inside out, so they'll be easier to write. The other two books require some research. This means, there are specific books I need to read and I cannot deviate to far from my book choices. I'll be celebrating National Mentoring Month reading the books I need to read to get the background knowledge for the books I want to write. These books will be my mentors.

Additionally, I want to level up my Facebook group, and start reading more books that deal with serious issues that the world is facing. Reading the books to give me a solid foundation of the issues will better enable me to see how I can be a part of the solution.

There are a few people in the Facebook group. And they can assume the role of peer mentors, and other mentors, to hold each other accountable. So they are more likely to achieve their goals. And they'll work towards becoming their best selves.

National Mentoring Month: The First Mentoring Relationship

The first known incident of the concept of mentors is found in Homer's, The Odyssey. When King Odysseus leaves to fight in the Trojan War, he asks his good friend Mentor to watch over his young son Telemachus. In the story, Mentor as himself, is not mentioned that much. So I cannot evaluate the quality of his mentorship ability. However, Goddess Athena, who has a soft spot for Odysseus, disguises herself as Mentor. She appears to Telemachus, encouraging him to stand up against his mother’s suitors. And to go in search of his father. Athena knows that Odysseus is alive, but she doesn’t want to tell Telemachus.

Telemachus takes up the call to find his father, while Odysseus perseveres as he overcomes challenges after challenge to return to Ithaca to his wife and son. Both father and son are on a hero’s journey, with Athena as a guide. As the Goddess of wisdom and intelligence, Athena offers father and son the insider knowledge they need to succeed on their hero’s journey. The Odyssey demonstrates mentorship in action. Later, the term mentor, morphed into what it is today. According to Wikipedia,

“The first recorded modern usage of the term can be traced to a 1699 book entitled Les Aventures de Télémaque, by the French writer François Fénelon. In the book, the lead character is that of Mentor. This book was very popular during the 18th century and the modern application of the term can be traced to this publication.”

In Storyscaping: Stop Creating Ads, Start Creating Worlds by Gaston Legorburu and Darren McColl, the authors describe their version of the hero's journey.

“The hero travels a path of behaviors to solve his or her quest. Along that path the mentor helps the hero by providing a magical gift (product or service) that satisfies the hero’s desires and creates a shared journey (experience).”

In the context of peer-mentoring, each mentor plays two roles, both hero and mentor.

Final Thoughts: National Mentoring Month

Mentors are important, and they can play a part in your professional success. What areas do you need support in? And who do you know that can give you the support? Do you have contacts who would make great peer mentors? Why not start a peer-to-peer mentoring group to celebrate National Mentoring Month.

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