Show Me Where to Look, But Not What To See.

We can all benefit from having a mentor. And not just one. Like a snake sheds its skin, we shed our mentors when it’s time. And although your mentor will change throughout your career, the fact that you need one never will.

Over my career I’ve had some incredible mentors. I truly stand on the shoulders of giants. At 16, I was introduced to Ken Mattson who took me under his wing and taught me how to lift. In college it was my chance meeting of @Kev_in_carr and all the information I consumed on T-Nation and EliteFTS, from Mike Boyle, Dan John, Mike Robertson, Eric Cressey, Jim Wendler, Dave Tate, and many others. Post-college, it was multiple internships then a job at Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning where I learned in dog years. I am forever grateful to Coach @michael_boyle1959 and the many amazing coaches I got to work with when I was there. Coach @coachdanjohn came shortly after, and continues to be a mentor. Now 10 years into my career, my mentors have become the people who attend our CFSC courses – because when “one teaches, two learn.”

Mentors can come in many forms and from unlikely sources – coworkers, communities, clients, children, hobbies, articles, books. For me, mentors have to meet the following criteria:

(1) Shares knowledge (willingly) – They are doing what you want to be doing; so you watch, listen, and learn.

(2) Keeps you accountable – They’re a neutral party with a birds-eye view. They don’t tell you want you want to hear, they tell you what you need to hear.

(3) It’s a relationship, not a dictatorship – It is clear that the person, place, or thing cares about you and your success. This factor of mentorship is MORE important than knowledge. The root of the word relationship is – relate. Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care – THEN they’ll care how much you know.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb

Your turn,

     – Who are, or have been, your mentors?

    –  How did you meet and what have they done for you?

    – What do YOU look for in a mentor?

    – What requirements do you have for your mentors?

This article was written by Movement As Medicine co-owner and CFSC Coach Brendon Rearick. He can be contacted at brendonrearick@gmail.com