Becoming a Mentor
When is the last time you thought about those who helped you get to where you are today?
As I’m writing this, I can’t help but notice the “busyness” that surrounds me in the coffee shop. A steady flow of people coming and going on a clear and promising day, but for some reason, I don’t think a lot of these people, who seem to be dragging themselves into the store, have taken much time to reflect and be grateful for another day above ground.
For most of us, waking up in the morning is filled with responsibilities.
It could be getting the kids ready for school, rushing to catch the last train into the city, or making sure you arrive at school or work on time. It’s a mad rush which leaves us little time for reflection and gratefulness.
When was the last time you woke up in the morning, opened the blinds, looked out into God’s country and was thankful for another day above ground?
When was the last time you woke up and spent a few minutes counting your blessings, as well as reflecting on the hardships in your life and being thankful for those too?
In Order To Go Fast, You Gotta Be Slow
Let me ask you this – what if we took a minute to slow down, or better yet stop, and think about the people who have made the most impact in our lives?
When we take the time to reflect on the people who have come into our lives, we realize that every person has come into our life for a reason – a reason we typically don’t discover until much later in our journey.
I often find myself reflecting on those who have helped me get to where I am today and I can easily connect the dots.
I see that mentor who put his arm around me when I was crazy enough to start a business and had vision, but no road map in sight.
I see that coach who poured into me and showed me the intricacies of how to teach hitting and how to master tricking hitters into thinking they could hit.
I remember the first time when I worked with a big leaguer and they told me that “you are the man KW” and how that simple phrase meant the world to me – it meant I was now accepted in that world I once dreamed of being a part of. I remember that time when 30 Major League Baseball organizations didn’t hire me, for whatever reason, and I’m grateful they didn’t because it led to me to what I’m doing right now – coaching big league hitters.
Whether it’s an individual, an industry, God (or whatever you believe in), situation or experience, those moments happen for a reason and it’s our job to learn to be grateful for the good times and the bad.
Be Thankful
As I continue to watch the flow of people drag in and out of this coffee shop, I ask of you one thing. Make time to reflect on the people who helped you get to where you are today.
Then take some time to reach out and thank them for their help, inspiration, idea, or whatever they did to impact your life.
You can text them, call them or pen a handwritten thank you note (my personal favorite). Let them know how much they mean to you and that you understand that you couldn’t get to where you are without their mentorship.
Because in reality, we don’t achieve what we want alone – we all need a mentor in our lives.
I firmly believe that we are all on this Earth to positively impact the lives of others. The greatest feeling in the world is seeing someone that you mentor succeed.
Ask yourself, “How can I return the favor today?” Focusing on others will impact your life in ways only a servant leader can experience.
Inspire someone today.
Love,
KW
For more than a decade, Kevin Wilson has been one of the most respected hitting coaches in the game. He works behind the scenes as a private hitting consultant to some of the best hitters in Major League Baseball. In 2013, Kevin was the hitting coach for the USA Baseball 18U National Team. Team USA beat Japan for the Gold medal at the IBAF World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan.
He is the author of the Amazon #1 Best Sellers The #GoodBatting Book and Finding Clarity: A Mindful Look Into the Art of Hitting and co-hosts a popular podcast, KWB Radio, that showcases unique conversations with the pros. If you want Kevin to speak at your next event or if you want take advantage of his popular 2-day KWB Experience for players and coaches, contact Kevin today!
Follow Kevin on twitter @KWBaseball and visit his website KWBaseball.com