I attended a 50th birthday celebration of a colleague, and it opened my eyes more to the reality of living an impactful life. In that ceremony, a time was allotted for people to speak about the celebrant. I was listening to the tributes and testimonies of people whom she has come in contact with. I understand that in such a gathering, positive testimonies are expected, but hers was spectacular that at a point, people became emotional.
I always knew that she was a kind person who was filled with love for others but on that occasion, I saw a life full of beauty, a lady who loves with great ease, whose life is a manual for many and someone who has sacrificed a lot for people. I saw another angle of mentorship, beyond the formal one I know, one has influenced and transformed people’s personal, professional and spiritual lives even from afar, by the way she lives her life and how she relates with people. It was a grand and edifying occasion for me.
I went home reflecting on the many elements that drive success and the different angles of mentorship. I realized that we often prioritize hard work, value, diligence, resourcefulness, and other elements of success without aligning them with the people and systems which also contribute to achieving our goals/results.
From the stories I heard on that occasion, I was able to gather a lot of inspiration, and I’m here to tell people, especially the young ones, that there is a giant around you that you need to stand on his shoulders to see the world better. Someone whose life is enough manual for you to excel in any endeavour. Someone whose experience and insights in life empower your drive. Somehow who…
Sets the benchmark and lifts the bar high for you.
Who challenges you to be your best at all times.
Whose evidence and results are so loud and conspicuous enough to clear your doubts.
Who propels you to aim higher and not dwell on a win.
Who programs you to be seen and heard in any move you make.
Who helps you define your reality by correcting your perception.
Who sees what makes you unique, outstanding, and exceptional and invests in it.
Who identifies your value, recognises your gift, and makes you appreciate them.
Who helps you with the right audience that boosts your efforts.
The culmination of the person who you look up to, with other attributes of success, determines how far you go.
The ultimate lesson is that people close to us determine our level of success in life, people whose lives lead us to the threshold of our mind, and propel us to become the best version of ourselves. It may not be enough to have a formal mentor, but it is everything to have someone or some people whose lives are a compass that helps us navigate life easily.
Finding such a person may be the key to your breakthrough. You may need to check your circle and know where and how you need to align.
✍️Amara Ann Unachukwu
