069 Make an impact. Mentor a millennial.

Do you want to truly make an impact in the world? Mentor a millennial. There’s a lot of them and they are eager to learn from you.

This week’s Inspire Me quote is taken from the best selling book, Tuesday’s with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Mitch portrays a touching story of lessons learned from his dying mentor and former college professor suffering from ALS:

“‘Mitch,’ he said, ‘the culture doesn’t encourage you to think about such things until you’re about to die. We’re so wrapped up in egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks – we’re involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don’t get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all?  Is this all I want?  Is something missing?’ He paused. ‘You need someone to probe you in that direction. It won’t just happen automatically.’ I knew what he was saying. We all need teachers in our lives. And mine was sitting right in front of me.”

In today’s episode, Leary and Armin talk about the Millennial Generation and what they are seeking in a mentor.

Millenials, those born between 1981-1993, are a generation that is tech savvy, diverse and connected. They want to make a difference. Known as the “social justice generation,” they want to influence and be world changers. But, can they gain wisdom from those who have gone before them? Yes. And while they are considered to be the most “socially isolated generation,” many millenials hunger for mentorship.

Who might makes a good mentor for a millenial?

Mellenials are an entreprenural generation and one that fights for social justice. They will most likely be drawn to someone who is willing to use their influence to make the world a better place. They are looking for mentors who will:

• Ask deep rooted questions
• Dig into their goals and help them discover what their goals are truly rooted in
• Keep them engaged by challenging them to own the mentor/mentee relationship

Whether mentoring a millennial or someone from another generation, the following practices can make your mentoring relationship more valuable for both of you:

1. Make yourself accessible by expressing interest in them first rather than waiting for them to come to you.
2. Invest in getting to know them, not to change them. Come alongside to understand them.
3. Don’t settle for superficiality. Go deeper. These questions from Gordon Dalbey (Healing for the Masculine Soul) can help. Before you ask them of your mentor, be sure to ask them of yourself:

When have you demonstrated loyalty to someone or some cause greater than yourself?

When have you shown patience during trial, disciplined intensity in a task, calmness “under fire”?

What skills are you working to hone?

When have you take a calculated risk and tested yourself?

When have you taken initiative to right a wrong?

When have you demonstrated compassion by taking action on behalf of another person?

4. Model transparency. Why waste time on surface relationship? Your mentee needs to know that you get it and have been there too.

This week’s Challenge Me:

Think about one or two millennials you know. What steps can you take to more intentionally engage them and demonstrate accessibility to them.

Resources mentioned or related to this podcast that may be helpful to you:

• How to be an intentional apprentice, Reinventure Me Episode 8 on how to be a good mentee.
• The choice between legend or legacy, Reinventure Me Episode 64 interview with guest Dr. Chuck Stecker on where to put the emphasis of your life pursuits.