Comments on: Brad Lomenick Talks Developing Credibility

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:12:42 +0000

i'm not only mentoring, but being mentored from different mentors, i.e. ministry/leadership; business development. Just ask. i've got 4 mentees that I am meeting with monthly. 2 offline and 2 online.
both sides of mentoring are key for me right now. Brad's post mentions the 25 year old club…I'm 40 and I'm still seeking out mentors. It doesn't stop.

By: nerrad

nerrad — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:53:55 +0000

Young guys, SEEK OUT mentors and training! Don't be afraid to ask those you would like to mentor/coach you! Usually (not always, but usually) there are already people in your life who could function in that role. Who are individuals that have influenced you or that you are being influenced by now? Be specific when you ask too, How much time are you hoping the mentor can give to you? What kind of investment are you willing to put into the mentoring relationship (in terms of time and effort)?

Another thing, having a mentor/coach is not just a "young person" thing. I think it's important to always be seeking out those with more "credibility" (in terms of the equation being discussed here) than you to assist in your growth as an individual. It fits in with the whole "discipleship" paradigm that Jesus modeled.

By: nerrad

nerrad — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:53:38 +0000

Another thing, having a mentor/coach is not just a "young person" thing. I think it's important to always be seeking out those with more "credibility" (in terms of the equation being discussed here than you to assist in your growth as an individual. It fits in with the whole "discipleship" paradigm that Jesus modeled.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:51:05 +0000

well said. thanks for joining this small but healthy community kyle!

By: @adamrshields

@adamrshields — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:48:47 +0000

I do think that the "best mentors are dead" line is a cop out. I explicately ask a couple of professors in college to be mentors and they turned me down. That has happened a couple times since college as well. But now that I am in my mid 30s I still need mentors just as much. Although what I have found is better peer relationships. Peer relationship, especially when you both have something to offer the other are a great option, when our elders are just not stepping up to the plate.

But we also need to lead by example and seek out others that need mentoring.

By: nerrad

nerrad — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:37:11 +0000

Point 3 "Stay focused, but broad" – I agree with you here, John when it comes to the difficulty of doing this applied to web technology. However, I think it is still possible to be a expert in one or two things and be really familiar with other things – that contributes to greater credibility.

Agree with you on the moral authority. One bad choice, or a series of small choices leading you south on the moral compass and you can pretty much kiss your credibility good by. Here's what I think the credibility equation looks like with Moral Authority in it.

C = MA(T x (E+E))

By: klreed189

klreed189 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:35:43 +0000

I think you are right in the fact that we can create a better environment. I had a lot of profs in college tell me that the best mentors they had were all dead, meaning classic early Christian authors. I understand what they are saying, but I almost want to tell them that we have plenty of good mentors that are alive, they just don't seem to want to be mentors.
I am finding a lot of mentoring through the interwebs. Sites like yours and other great blogs as well as twitter are great resources for guys like me to learn and soak things up. I just don't want to always be a sponge, I want to give to others. That is part of the goal behind my blog, is to be a resource, but I feel like I have a lot of growing to do. I just don't want to wake up at 36 and feel like i missed it, I missed great opportunities.

By: klreed189

klreed189 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:35:38 +0000

Thanks for the link to the post, the reminder, and the call to moral authority.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:28:06 +0000

kyle,

i think you bring up a great point and i know exactly what you're feeling since i (and many others) have been right there with you at one point in time.

i think mentorship/discipleship is very under-utilized. we all could use a little more.

perhaps it's a combination of seeking out and simply being available (mentee/mentor). perhaps we can create a better environment where that can happen...

By: klreed189

klreed189 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:18:41 +0000

Thanks for the link to the post, the reminder, and the call to moral authority.
Being 23 is hard to deal with. I am not a kid anymore, but I don't feel like an adult. I am at that point where I am getting ready to choose a career but it is still very raw and new. It is one of the most confusing and frustrating places I have been in a little while. I feel like Jeremiah when he was thrown in a pit of mud and his only companion was God. I feel stuck in the mud and unable to move.
One question I wonder John and others, do the young guys need to seek out the training and mentoring or should we let that seek us out? I feel weird asking someone to mentor me, like I am a burden, but I also feel like I really really need their guidance, what do you think?