I recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend with my (now grown) son. Although he is the youngest one of the bunch, he has clearly grown up.
We were talking about mentors. What interactions, what benefits, how to find the best one. And, we spoke about the folks who helped make my way better. And, after I explained who they were and what they offered, my son had a clearer idea about mentorship. And, he also wanted to know who I have mentored over the years. Which helped him more.
Given that it’s “Thanksgiving” time, I’m going to share some of my experiences as a mentee with you- to help you understand mentors and to honor those who helped me. Some of them you have read about- both on my blog and in the press. Others, you never did. But, that doesn’t mean they weren’t world-class advisors.
And, that’s lesson 1. The best mentor is one who has “been there and done that”- for the things you want to do or try. The best mentor is one who is interested in you- to help you get to be the you you want to be. (I always love saying that!)
So, my mentors have been Sol Kuchlik, Sue (Katzman) Finkelstein, Cary Rollner (and to some degree, his partner- I. Harry Mazur), Samuel Ruben, and Arthur Lipper III. You will notice that some are famous (or is that notorious?), and some are not. But, all of these folks made a big difference in my life- they helped me reach the goals I set (or, at least in one case, helped me set the goals themselves).
I’ve told you many times I wanted to be a chemical engineer, who invents an artificial kidney, from the time I was around 8 years old. Being a Chem E was an obvious choice tor one who loved chemistry, lived chemistry, and was adept in math and technology. The side skills, the side training- that’s where the mentors came into my life and made that difference.
About 15 years ago, my son and I were traveling together. To a business meeting I needed to attend, but one that would let him see Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and the best science museum in North America (the Ontario Science Centre).
At that meeting, it suddenly dawned on my son that these folks were really deferential to my opinions, facts, and discussions. And, that he really had no clue what I did for a living. So, the evening of the first day of the meeting, in the hotel bar (you have to love the Canadian rules- kids can be in the bar; of course, no alcohol), he wanted me to explain what I did- and what I have done.
We made a list of my inventions, my products, my processes. I’ve searched for that list often. Because it was totally inclusive. And, to be honest, I want to share it with my grandson, too. (My daughters knew most of these- since they each traveled with me to my clients around the world often. And, saw them come into being in my labs and my clients’ facilities.)
But, the facts are, that because of the skills, advice, training, and joie de vivre I learned or acquired from my mentors, I’ve been able to cross technological, managerial, and geographical boundaries I never would have thought possible.
So, to each of them, I owe more than thanks. I owe them parts of what I have achieved.
Tomorrow, you’ll learn about the first mentor I had.
This is the week of thanks. I am honoring my mentors.
Cary Rollner- A big brother of sorts
Arthur Lipper- The 3rd is the charm!
It has been my experience that the best mentors are the ones that teach a person how to learn. The subject matter isn’t as important as the skill. Your mentors encouraged you to study and think independently. They were there if you got stuck, but they led you along very carefully. Yes, sometimes you got chewed out, but that would depend on the character of the mentor. That was also a part of the learning process. What to do when you get reprimanded is a part of learning. I would say that you have a lot to be thankful for.
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I am trying to see if I agree. I think it depends upon how one defines “learning”. My mentors have forced me to hone my goals, to be able to expound more clearly, and to recognize those bumps in the road that start out as pebbles!
I suppose we are both right in this. Learning how to learn will get rusty if the student is not given challenges to reinforce the skill and to stretch the learner beyond a false sense of safety. Some challenges turn weaknesses into strength with the right mentor
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That’s for sure, Ann!
I don’t follow the medical news much. Did you in fact invent an artificial Kidney? It seems to me that would be a world class achievement that would earn at least a Nobel Prize in Medicine. A person of interest that I have be lucky enough to talk with from time to time, Dr. Louis Ignarro is a Nobel Laureate in Medicine for his work with Nitric Oxide. I read everything he published that I can get my hands on, however that is about my limit for medical research as a stand alone subject. I do read publications from other doctors of interest to me such as Dr. Andrew Myers and Dr. Andrew Weil but of course all three of these doctors are writing about health and giving our body the nutrients it needs. And that can be effected by the food we eat, thus my interest.
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No, the development of an artificial kidney would not make one eligible for a Nobel Prize- they tend to go towards those in science (and not technology). And, yes, that is among my developments.
I realized when I was about 16 that my dream of garnering such a prize would never be, since I would always be a technology devotee. But, thanks for the vote!!!
The best mentors I’ve had are the ones who believed in me when I didn’t, and who empowered me to find the answers myself – rather than feeding them to me!
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That’s the best kind, Janine!!!
Thanks for the share- it amplifies the point dramatically.
This is such a nice post Roy! It takes a village to become what we are, doesn’t it? I tried to identify who my mentors were, and, as I am not an inventor (at all), my more experienced friends were my mentors. And I need to thank them too.
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We certainly do, Muriel. They have helped us more than they often know.
Thanks for the comment and the visit!