The Way We Live Our Lives

Lately, I have been writing about mentoring, coaching, role modeling, and sponsoring—which are all related to helping good people learn and grow in their careers to achieve the success they deserve.

George Tarulis, who I had the good fortune to work with at Johnson & Higgins, recently sent me the book, Mentor. George gives me more credit than I deserve.

I think he feels I saw potential in him and encouraged him to raise his sites for his career, that he could be very successful. Quite honestly, it was very obvious that he had great potential to be a highly effective leader.

George is a wonderful example of someone who was mentored, as he became a mentor himself to lots of people coming up behind him.

I read Mentor and enjoyed it, though it really just validates what I think we all know, that a mentor can have important impacts on the lives of others. What I especially like about the book; however, is that the author lists pieces of advice at the end.

While these pieces of advice are simple and basic, I find themcompelling and inspirational.  I think they can help us think about how we lead our lives.

With that said, here is a partial list of the suggestions. I picked ones that particularly resonated with me.

• Be a mentor                          
• Listen to understand and learn
• Use a to do list
• Walk
• Drink water  
• Be loyal
• Ask questions           
• Pick up trash
• Call a friend and a relative
• Be a friend
• Do important things first
• Save 10%
• Do what you say you will 
• Never talk negatively about someone to others
• Attend a seminar or workshop
• Be appreciative
• Finish what you start
• Open doors for people
• Be slow to anger
• Be cheerful and kind
• Attend church
• Don’t talk a lot about yourself
• Play by the rules
• Take someone to dinner
• Be polite
• Be on time, if not early
• Read – more!
• Exercise 4 times a week
• Keep your promises
• Plan, take action
• Give away books
• Be a giver      

This is a partial list. Nothing we don’t already know well, right? Yet, to me, these are good reminders.

Do these principles affect our leadership?

Yes, they absolutely affect our leadership. If we care about and respect others, ask for their ideas, help them, are considerate and appreciative, are a giver, play by the rules, keep our composure, do what we say we will and are a source of positive energy, people will want to follow us and go the extra mile when needed.   

I hope these messages are as helpful for you as they were for me.