What lessons have you learned from your Mentors?

For many a year now, a friend and I have batted around ideas about mentorship and how one becomes a mentor, and how one establishes a mentoring relationship. We've made up all sorts of words-- mentee, which still makes me think about a manatee, the large awkward endangered species, rather than a young protoge seeking guidance from a more wise and experienced guru.

Apparently we aren't the only ones fascinated with this relationship phenomenon.
Mark Eaton, former center for the Utah Jazz, came to do a presentation on "The Power of Mentorship." While he didn't talk about exactly the things I've been thinking about, he did present some really fantastic ideas. So, rather than trying to restructure my thoughts about what he said, I'm just going to copy my notes here. I'd love feedback on what you think about Mentorship and the ideas he presented.

Here goes:

• Playing and Being Big are learned behaviors (if you've ever seen Mark Eaton-- he's HUGE, but said he never felt big inside-- just needed mentors to teach him how.)
• Lessons may take years to learn, and years to realize that they came from a "mentor" (possibly mentoring in hindsight?)
• Everybody has something to contribute.
• Mentors inspire and empower to create a cohesive team who can play big.
• Goals help us fee happy, confident and big.
• Find a mentor who know what to do with you. :) Vs. A mentor who can't figure you out!!
• Mentors travel in packs (and they said that was just a female trait!!) They tend hang out with other mentors.
• Never underestimate the power of a security measure against risk. (a box of tools to fall back on if the NBA doesn't want you)

Commentary on the business world:

• Hire for skills, but they don't define your job. (sound familiar???)
• Solution: Become proactive-- "What do I need to do to get where I want to go?"
• Businesses in general hires and fires until the right person is found. They expect performance without practice.
• Solution: Practice counts more than the game.

Final thought: Playing Big is about recognizing and being open to mentors in our lives. They come in all shapes, sized and packages. (even mean, nasty people who make you sit on the bench can be mentors.)