30 Posts In 30 Days – Day 14: Silent Mentors

This is Day 14 of the 30 Posts In 30 Days Challenge I set for myself to start writing online. This post was originally published on X.

We all agree on the importance of finding someone who can professionally guide us.

A mentor.

But oftentimes, especially early in our career, we haven’t found that person yet.

A few years ago, I felt like I had been dealing with the same problem for months.

I felt stuck and in dire need of help.

Out of desperation, I started drafting an email to a person I had been looking up to and learning from for years.

I began describing my problem and the thoughts I had about it.

I tried to keep my message as brief and “to the point” as possible. After all, I didn’t want to waste his time.

I felt a little awkward about the message and didn’t send it right away.

I instead ended up editing it over the next couple of days.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I began to imagine what answers he would come up with, based upon what I’ve learned from his blog.

I went back and cut the questions, where the answers for started to feel obvious to me.

After going through this process for a while, I realized I didn’t have to send the message.

I answered all my questions, by thinking through them from that person’s point of view.

Fast forward to early 2023.

I was listening to an episode of “The Tim Ferris Show”, where Tim talked to Derek Sivers, the founder of CD Baby.

Derek described a similar process he’s going through, whenever he’s in need of advice by one of his mentors.

I don’t remember if it was Derek himself or somebody else who came up with a catchy term for it:

Silent Mentors.

We do have access to the lessons of so many professionals, from all kinds of industries.

Think about the books, blogs, podcasts, and videos that resonate with you.

Next time you feel like you’re in need of a mentor, try to summarize the problem you’re facing. Write it down.

And then try to look at it from the view of one of your mentors.

You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll find an answer to your problem.