The Surprising Truth About Giving Back That Changed My Life

Why I Started Mentoring (And Why You Should Consider It Too)

You know what’s crazy? 73% of millennials are willing to pay for mentorship, yet most of us who could be mentors are sitting on the sidelines! I used to be one of those people who thought, “Who am I to mentor anyone?” But boy, was I wrong about that.

After years of building my career and making more mistakes than I care to count, I realized something important. The knowledge sitting in my head wasn’t doing anyone any good if I kept it locked away. That’s when I decided to dive headfirst into mentoring – and honestly, it’s been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.

My Journey Into Mentoring (The Messy Beginning)

Let me tell you about my first mentoring disaster. I was so eager to help this young professional that I basically threw everything I knew at her in our first meeting. Poor girl looked like a deer in headlights!

I learned real quick that effective mentoring isn’t about dumping all your wisdom on someone. It’s about listening first, understanding their specific challenges, and then offering targeted guidance. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just shut up and let them figure things out while you’re there as a safety net.

My approach to professional development completely shifted after that experience. Instead of being the know-it-all mentor, I became more of a guide who asks the right questions.

What Makes Mentoring Work (Spoiler: It’s Not What You Think)

Here’s the thing about successful mentoring relationships – they’re not one-way streets. I’ve learned as much from my mentees as they’ve learned from me, maybe even more!

The key ingredients that I’ve discovered are pretty simple:

• Genuine interest in their success (not just wanting to feel important)
• Regular check-ins that aren’t just about work stuff
• Honest feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable
• Celebrating their wins like they’re your own

One of my mentees once told me that what helped her most wasn’t my advice about career strategy. It was when I shared how I completely bombed a presentation early in my career and what I learned from it.

The Practical Side of Mentoring (Let’s Get Real)

Okay, so you’re thinking about mentoring but wondering how the heck you actually do it? I get it – I was there too.

First off, forget about having all the answers. Your job isn’t to be perfect; it’s to be helpful. I usually start by asking mentees what their biggest challenge is right now. Then we work backwards from there.

Time management was my biggest struggle when I started. I was trying to mentor like five people at once while juggling my own responsibilities. Not smart. Now I limit myself to two or three mentoring relationships at a time, and I actually schedule our meetings like any other important appointment.

Pro tip: Keep notes after each session. Trust me on this one – you’ll forget what you talked about, and it shows you care when you can reference something they mentioned weeks ago.

When Mentoring Gets Challenging (Because It Will)

Not gonna lie, there are moments when mentoring feels like banging your head against a wall. I had this one mentee who would ask for advice, nod enthusiastically, then do the complete opposite. It was frustrating as hell!

But here’s what I learned: sometimes people need to make their own mistakes. Your role is to be there when they need to process what happened, not to prevent every stumble along the way.

The hardest part for me was learning when to step back. There’s a fine line between being supportive and being controlling, and I definitely crossed it a few times in my early mentoring days.

The Unexpected Benefits (Plot Twist!)

I started mentoring because I wanted to give back. What I didn’t expect was how much it would help my own career and personal growth.

Mentoring has made me a better leader, a more patient person, and honestly, it’s kept me connected to fresh perspectives and new ideas. When my mentees challenge my thinking or share insights from their generation, it pushes me to stay current and keep growing.

Plus, there’s something incredibly fulfilling about watching someone you’ve invested in succeed. It’s like being a proud parent, but without having to pay for college!

Ready to Start Your Own Mentoring Journey?

Look, mentoring isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you’re sitting there thinking about all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over the years, maybe it’s time to share it with someone who could benefit from your perspective.

Start small – maybe with one person, one conversation at a time. Don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best mentoring happens in casual coffee chats or quick check-in calls.

Remember, you don’t have to be perfect to be helpful. Some of my most valuable mentoring moments came from sharing my failures, not my successes. That’s the beauty of this whole thing – we’re all just figuring it out as we go.

If you’re curious about diving deeper into mentoring strategies or want to explore more about professional development, I’d love for you to check out other posts here on Chen Li Ping. There’s always something new to learn, and I’m constantly sharing what I discover along the way!