Comments on: 30 Days to a Better Man Day 3: Find a Mentor

By: Alexander Connell

Alexander Connell — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:47:02 +0000

This is going to be a tough one for me. One of the things which brought me to this site was the lack of a suitable mentor figure in my life. I never knew my grandfathers and while my Dad had many fine qualities, he was a long way from the ideal in terms of a mentor.

I know men who I admire in certain areas, not in others. However, I can’t think of a single one, either in my personal or professional life who I wish to completely emulate.

As I’ve gone through life, I’ve always tried to learn from others – what to do and what not to do. How to treat people, and not. What makes a good boss and what doesn’t. And like Jonas above, I’ve tried to learn from historical (and fictional) characters and their actions.

Then I’ve tried to live my life according to what I’ve learned. I’m going to continue to do that and if a mentor should present himself in the meantime, I’ll go from there.

By: Jonas Ogrefoln

Jonas Ogrefoln — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:16:11 +0000

I would like to pose a question – Since I am in a remote location, and will be alone here for several more months; what do you guys think of replacing a particular Author (long deceased) or even 3 Authors in lieu of an actual living breathing person? Seems to me that if their works were based on their lives, observations, and viewpoints; and those are all relatively new to me, would this not serve the same purpose in exposing myself to new ideas of the world around me? Offering me the same challenges of reviewing and accepting or rejecting new attitudes as a living person? I am 44 years old and having actively sought out mentors in the past to no great success I find that I have sought out the wisdom I require through the men of our past from all walks of life. I am always on the look out for men whom I feel would be suitable to this task, but have found many wanting in various aspects of their own lives and difficult to take stock in. I have however found what I needed in the works of great men from our past. I often find that where one author poses a question for me – it is answered by another. If you guys think that is an acceptable alternative I would like to present (for the current time being ) Henry David Thoreau, Black Elk, and Alfred North Whitehead as my 3 stand ins as they are men I am currently studying. It is kind of funny that the Alfred Whitehead book I am reading “The Aims of Education” has “A Mentor Book” printed at the bottom. Any comments on this idea?

By: Daniel Rojas

Daniel Rojas — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:25:37 +0000

This is gonna be tough compared to the first two.

I am starting the Challenge a litlle later than everyone else but i am enthusiastic about completing all this.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:12:47 +0000

I’m a girl loosely following this guide (and it’s been an eye opener already!), but I think I already have a mentor- my dad has the integrity, intelligence and determination that i hope to have, and he gives great advice… so, should I look for an additional mentor…?

By: 30 Day Challenge: Day 3 - www.Lou-Davis.com

30 Day Challenge: Day 3 - www.Lou-Davis.com — Fri, 07 May 2010 02:29:00 +0000

[...] http://artofmanliness.com/2009/06/02/30-days-to-a-better-man-day-3-find-a-mentor/ 30 Day Challenge, Lou! Challenge none [...]

By: Robert Christiansen

Robert Christiansen — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:42:53 +0000

It was very tough for me to do this task as I am a forman and have been in a leadership position for many years at what I do for a living. So I used 2 catagories one mentor in my personal life and one in my profesional life. It was a definite step out of my comfort zone to ask one of my counter parts at work to mentor me. I picked a guy who has been in my trade and run work for 30 years . It was tough and I explained what I was doing and I was taken back by his immediate responce to comply. We are now going to get together once a week to talk about certain situations that arise on the projects that I am responceable for.On a personal level it was much easier as the person I picked I have a lot of respect for and have known for a long time.

By: Day 3: 30 Days to a Better Man! « The Better Man Project

Day 3: 30 Days to a Better Man! « The Better Man Project — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:25:10 +0000

[...] Day 3: 30 Days to a Better Man! Find a Mentor [...]

By: Tom Baldwin

Tom Baldwin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:11:52 +0000

I mentor quite a few young men and young ladies. I just love to help people not make the same mistakes I did.

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS –

NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE

By: Win L

Win L — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:31:35 +0000

I personally find it awkward to directly ask someone to be my mentor. I prefer to admire his philosophy and his values that he holds. You can say “hey, I really agree with your thoughts on this. Can you tell me more?” This already suggests your friend that you’re interested in him, and he’ll be delightful to tell you.

Having problems with making friends? Read “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It’s in one of the must-read novels in this website. Read it. It’s useful.

By: Frank Rider

Frank Rider — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:00:58 +0000

Yesterday I realized I had no shoes that I could shine, oddly enough, and I spent a bit of time deciding which shoes to get, yadayadayada. Anyway, I realized in that time that i could have been doing something to replace a shoe shine. I could have polished my mother’s China cabinet full of silver, or scrubbed down the kitchen, or even given the windows a good cleaning. I ended up with the third, and i may not have had shiny shoes, but I gained some skill level in the work ethic area. Maybe the days task will only help in an inadvertent manner, but it will always will help. Thanks guys.