On occasion, I post about how I mentor elementary school-aged boys with difficult family backgrounds.
The truth is that kids with hard family backgrounds are not the only ones who need mentors.
The quote in the photo from New City Initiative in Portland, Oregon is revealing in a lot of ways. Homelessness may, by and large, be a product of a lack of relationships.
Applying this statement to the regular working class person who isn’t in jeopardy of going homeless, a lot of our problems could be stymied by the presence of authentic relationships.
The truth is, we aren’t meant to do this life alone.
Yet we so often do just that.
As for me, although I am interacting with many people on any given work day, I find myself too often dealing with concerns, problems and frustrations in a vacuum.
I recall having a conversation with a friend of mine a while back, another business professional. He commented on how, although he knows a lot of people, he doesn’t have anyone that he regularly confides in. He doesn’t have “close friends”.
I think my friend is in good company with many others.
So then why so often do we find ourselves living in a vacuum?
My thoughts:
It is hard to be vulnerable with others. Our tendency is to hide our imperfections. We can brush aside the reality that we lack relationships by telling ourselves, or others “I just don’t have time“. I believe that is just a smokescreen for the real issues:
It is hard to admit our weaknesses, failures or shortcomings.
The bottom line: we need to be in authentic relationships.
We need mentors, confidants, people willing to walk along side us.
On the flip side, we need to be pouring into other people as well.
There are excellent resources in our community, I think of an excellent one like the Jandernoa Mentorship Program (JEM). Unfortunately, I am sure JEM and other groups would readily admit, those resources are limited.
I hear this theme in my work life, in the business community, non-profit service, I hear this when I go to church: call it mentoring, discipleship, or “sharpening iron” – we need to be in authentic relationships to build each other up.
So, I decided to do something about it.
Yesterday I created a Group on LinkedIn: Grand Rapids Business Mentoring Connection
I created this Group simply to provide a forum to make it easy for people to connect in meaningful ways.
1. Professionals who recognize their need for a mentor;
2. Professionals who are established in their career and are willing to share their experiences and failures with others, at any level; and
3. Professionals seeking authentic community and peer relationships.
My goal isn’t that Members of this group have any formal obligation. My hope is that those who join this group are willing to add value to others and connect on a personal level.
So my question and charge to you reading this post:
Who are you pouring into?
Established Professionals: You have something to offer. Consider joining this group and being available to connect with peers, younger professionals on whatever time you have available in your life.
Younger Professionals: Join this Group. Get others to join. Reach out and ask for help. You are the future leaders, but you cannot succeed in life on your own.
e-mail: Jeshua@dwlawpc.com
Twitter: @JeshuaTLauka
Purpose Driven General Counsel 