Mentoring can undoubtedly be a life-changing experience. I know you may be thinking, what on earth could I have to offer someone else though?

I think we have a common misconception that becoming a mentor has to look like Obi-Wan Kenobi mentoring Anakin Skywalker. That you have to be the ultimate expert on something and then and only then should you try to impart your superior wisdom.

At Think Native we believe that every journey is easier with a little help from someone who’s already walked in your shoes. Didn’t perfect walking in your shoes, just simply walking in them. You might be surprised at how much you can offer another.

Here’s how reasons why you should reconsider becoming a mentor.

1. Learn to see things differently
It always important to broaden your horizons; your career or life may see you interacting with a wide range of people and it is important that you are able to relate. Mentoring gives you the chance to engage with someone who may see things very differently.

2. Stop thinking about yourself
Sharing your life and experiences may help you understand your own in a different light. Perhaps a moment that barely made an impact on you may in fact provide invaluable insight to another person.

Sometimes you need to get out of your own head to actually understand yourself better.

3. Challenge old behavior
We all get into bad habits, whether professionally or personally. A different point of view can help you understand why you take a certain course of action, or why you think in a certain way. Walking the talk is a huge piece in mentorship and as you pass on your advice and experience, you will have a better idea of how well you are living your own life.

4. Practice being a leader
Leadership is a valuable skill in any environment, and mentoring is a key part of it. The ability to help others learn and progress will be a key skill in your career and life, and you will also help you in building your communication skills.

5. Change someone’s life
You may not think that you have much to offer at this stage of your career and life, but engaging with someone who has had an entirely different background can be immensely rewarding for both of you.

Many young people never get as far as university, but you can help change this. Give a new generation the encouragement and support that will help them make the most of their potential. 

This list can go on and on because being a part of someone’s journey will never be something you regret.

 “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” - Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton got it right. Mentors help do the invaluable work of extending vision and enabling proteges to attain greater heights. In short, mentors provide undeniable counsel and resources that are not necessarily or readily available or accessible. If you’ve been alive for long, you know this reality all too well — you can not ‘do,’ ‘go’ or ‘be’ all you can be all by yourself. You will eventually need people and people will undoubtedly need you. 

It’s pretty ironic when you think about it. As kids we were taught “don’t talk to strangers” and “don’t take advice from someone you don’t know.” Yet, somehow these wise words have slipped through the cracks as online consumption is at an all time high. Gone are the days of taking time out of our busy days to venture to different stores to compare products within the same category. With online shopping, consumers can simply order anything they want with the click of a button.

Sometimes we’re so driven by the latest, hottest things that we can forget the wisdom found in the old saying, “Work with what you know.” Sure, it might not be as exciting, but sticking with the basics really does work. 

When looking to grow your nonprofit, it’s imperative to keep the mission, the heartbeat, the life, blood, and soul of your organization, at the forefront of everything. It’s critical. We understand the difficulties that come along with creating a long-term, sustainable nonprofit. The beginning stages can feel slim and grim, but we know that growth is attainable and momentum is possible. While we will never claim to know exactly the troubles you see, we want to help you on your journey and turn you mission into a movement.

Perhaps the most important factor in growing your nonprofit is having the ability to show how your organization is impacting the world. And lucky for you, that happens to be exactly what we major in over here at THINKNATIVE. 

Welcome back to part 2 of our “Things To Know About User Generated Content” mini-series. 

To succeed in the upcoming year, we want to encourage you to take the time to figure out what most inspires your audience to share content. Figure out the ways in which you can engage your customers to create and share user-generated content. Today, we wanted to offer just a few tips that will help in your planning over the course of this new decade.