“I am a mentor”.

A few words to be read on CVs or biographies; to be heard in the mouths of people at startup events;

Being a mentor does apparently sound like an achievement in a career nowadays.

Driving various kinds of people to become “mentors”.

However, the very foundations of mentoring and being a mentor are the ability to listen, understand and advise.

Let’s not lose the focus of what really matters : helping the mentoree settle down, progress and (hopefully) succeed.

I like to read this in an easy way : Mentoring = kicking someone’s ass.

Out of habits

Out of comfort zone

Out of mistakes

…

And whenever startups (mentorees in general) are on the right track, keep kicking them ahead of the crowd towards success.

Now being called a mentor does not mean being able to be one.

On to the next step, let the startups provide feedback and whenever needed, kick the so-called mentors out of the way.

So that mentoring can definitely kick ass!

(Photo : samuelpavin)