10 Reasons Why You Should Be A Mentor!

January is National Mentoring month and we here at BCG want to encourage you to give back, by being a guiding light to someone else!

10 Reasons to Become a Mentor!

 1. Being a mentor bridges the generation gap.

Most mentor/mentee relationships happen between someone in an older generation, coaching someone in a younger generation.  If you’re mentoring someone younger than you, realize that it can be a productive experience for both sides, as each generation can come to understand the other’s motivations, career goals, and attitudes. You can learn so much from young people, so in essence while you’re serving as mentor, you’re also connecting with younger people, learning how they think, what resonates with them, and that’s a powerful tool!

2. Being a mentor can help you redefine your own career path and goals.

Who knows perhaps your in a business career, but being a mentor can open doors and create insight you never knew you had. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find a passion for teaching, coaching or empowering mentoring at a greater level and starting your own nonprofit! By looking at your job through a mentee’s eyes, you gain outside perspective that could help you answer some tough questions about your career.

3. As a Mentor You Get to Pay it forward.

Remember as a child or even as as adult, there was someone who helped you make it through. I can remember being in college and being so confused and stressed out and having one of my mentors there to bridge the gap for me.  By acting as a mentor, you can help make the transition easier on someone else.

4.  You Are Creating a Future Mentor.
When you serve as a mentor you create a greater probability that the mentee will eventually   become a mentor themselves.

5. You Can Positively Impact Someone Else’s Life.
Chances are, as their first point of contact within an industry, your mentee will look up to you and your experience.  Whether you realize it or not, mentors have a huge influence on a mentee’s career (and life) outlook.  Mentors have the opportunity to build up someone’s skill set and confidence – and that’s a relationship not easily forgotten.  Not to mention, the idea of enlightening another person’s life will always add additional happiness to yours.

6. A Call to Men: You Can Be a Father-Figure for Someone.
Our communities are often portrayed in the media as negative, there is a strong absence of positive black males in the lives of our youth. According to a study by the University of Wisconsin; four major youth pathogens including Juvenile crime/delinquency, teen pregnancy, teen drug abuse and school dropout correlated with fatherlessness more than any other socioeconomic factor! You could be the father in the life of someone and help reduce these statistics!

7. Being a Mentor Allows You to Share Your Passion.
There is something that each one of us is passion about, we’re unique there is only one of us. Our passions sometimes go unspoken or kept our little secrets! Mentoring is an excellent chance to share your passions with someone else. Are you a great bargain shopper, do you lobe to travel, have a love of technology? Get excited about mentoring!  Share your tips, show your mentee what you love and who knows they may find passion, in your passions!

8. When You Mentor, Your Create Social Change in our Communities.
Teen pregnancy, gang violence, bullying, drug abuse and the list goes on are just some of the many issues we are dealing with in today’s society. Social change is about creating change today for a better tomorrow and mentoring is key. Serve as a mentor and help guide our youth in the right direction.

9. Our Young People Need You.
Think back to when you were a youngster, did you know everything? The answer is no and truthfully our young people need guidance in setting and achieving goals! You can help build their self-esteem, encourage them to be all they can be and possibly be the most positive person in their life!

10. It works and It’s a Wonderful Way to Give Back!
My father was a mentor to young boys since as early as I can remember. A few years ago one of his mentees contacted him after years telling my dad, he inspired him to become a teacher. My dad tells the story all the time, it is perhaps one of his greatest achievements and all it took was some extra time.

Three Places You Can Get Involved With and Mentor Now:

• Project Boss is looking for positive business women to serve as mentors to young women! Be sure to check them out.
• Join Michael Baisden on his quest for getting more mentors! Michael Baisden needs role models that will broaden our youth’s perception of what life has to  offer by motivating them to resist negative peer pressure and develop a positive self-image. Both male and female mentors are needed!
• One of the oldest organizations around is Big Brothers, Big Sisters; chances are there is an office in your city. Click here for more information.