“We all have mentors. They recognize the talent we don’t see under our own noses.” Jason Hewlett – Entertainer
According to Wikipedia, there are three types of satellites:
- Natural Satellites – also called moons
- Artificial Satellites – objects intentionally launched into orbit, such as communications and weather satellite
Another Type of Satellite?
There is a third type of satellite, according to author Rom Brafman, Ph.D., in his book, Succeeding When You’re Supposed to Fail: The 6 Enduring Principles of High Achievement.
In this book, Dr. Brafman studied people who are supposed to fail given their circumstances, such as a difficult childhood, for example. Over and over again, he discovered people who succeed regardless of their circumstances. They don’t cave in; rather they thrive and achieve great success. How is this possible?
One answer is the third type of satellite – a mentor, or the Mentor Satellite.
Mentor Satellite Defined
Here are the qualities of a mentor satellite:
- “Unconditional Positive Regard” (Carl Rogers): unconditional support with no strings or agenda attached.
- They are are not afraid to challenge, question, dare, or disagree with their mentees.
As the Jason Hewlett quotation above indicates, they see something in us that we don’t see in ourselves. Regardless of the type of satellite, it is a bright light in the sky.
The good news about a mentor satellite is that they shine the light on you. They help us break through glass ceilings, walls, and barriers when we do not think it is possible.
Have you ever had this experience? Have you shone the spot light on others? Who are your mentor satellites?
Keep shining,
Ed
