
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” — Bob Proctor
What would your life look like if there was no one to point out your mistakes when you take a wrong step; to appreciate you for your right decisions and help you with the variety of choices you face in your life on a day-to-day basis. Be it professional or personal life, we all need someone to guide us on the right path, occasionally and frequently. And that someone is called a mentor. Without whom, we all would be leading our whole life directionless and purposeless. Wouldn’t we?
So, I am starting a series “What do I learn from my mentors” that will be featuring all the mentors that inspire me to be a better version of myself every day. Before that, I wanted to share my opinion on why mentors are important and why we all need to have mentors from a young age.
Live Example to Prove it is Possible
Whenever we face a challenge that seems insurmountable, we look up to our mentors who have already surmounted them. And phew! We get the belief that we can do it too and the strength to face and overcome our challenges. Just like our mentors did. So, the first and foremost thing that a mentor helps us with is experience. As they already have been through life much further than we do, they provide us with the wisdom they got through their own experience. Something we cannot get from anywhere else.
The Easiest Way to Our Destination
We all have dreams and goals we want to achieve. But things we aspire for don’t come easy at all. To achieve our goals and make our dreams come true, we must go through a journey full of obstacles. And not many people make it to their destination because they quit when it gets tough. And the truth is, it will get tough at some point or the other. But we need to have the capacity to handle it and continue well into the path meant for us. Well, that’s exactly what a mentor does. A mentor provides us with the shortest and easiest way to our destination so that we know that we can reach it. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with the probability of failure, we look forward to the possibility of succeeding -when a mentor is there to guide us of course!
“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.” — J Loren Norris
Uncovering Our Potential
Every person has loads of potential within them. Unfortunately, not all of us succeed in realizing our highest potential. At times, one may be unaware of their potential. Other times, they simply are tired after trying hard for a few times of not making it and are used to mediocrity. Having a mentor helps us get the better of our emotions and does not let us accept defeat in the face of adversity. All in all, mentors not just guide us on our way to achieving success and realizing our highest potential, they correct our mistakes, motivate us when we feel discouraged, and serve as an example for us to follow.
Even Better Than Google!
The world we are in currently has made it excessively easy for us to find our answer as compared to the previous times when technology had not advanced this much. Today, we are just a google search away from finding answers to every possible question our mind can come up with. Still, people are confused, chaotic, and restless. Why? Because more and more people are relying on the internet for finding solutions rather than asking for help from someone who has already seen life. The problem with this is the loss of human touch. This waning of human connection is one of the reasons so many talented people today are getting astray and inclined towards destruction. What these people full of opportunities need is not resources or intelligence anymore. It’s wisdom. Wisdom of a successful person you can call your mentor. And by “successful”, I don’t mean someone who is wealthy or famous. You get to decide who is successful on your terms. But until you have or find someone who has already walked the path you are afraid to take- the path of success, you can’t have it.
I conclude by revealing the names of my mentors, the people I’ll always look for inspiration and enlightenment. Novak Djokovic, Jay Shetty, and Jim Rohn. These are the people who have been a road map for me throughout my journey and I follow them ardently. The upcoming blogs will be based on the lives of these more than just successful people whom I follow ardently. I’ll be sharing all the things they teach me and who knows, millions of other people like me! Stay tuned.
A Glimpse of his Record-Breaking Career
Born to rule the world of tennis, Novak Djokovic is the number one tennis player across the world currently. He holds numerous records, and his performance is applauded by men, women, children, and competitors alike. A few of the many achievements of Novak include holding the top position consistently for 270 weeks without a break, winning 20 Grand slam singles titles: eight Australian Open titles, five Wimbledon titles, three Us Open titles, and two French Open titles. “Order of the Republika Srpska”, and `Order of St. Sava’ are among the numerous awards bestowed on him.
Okay, I guess that’s enough to get an idea of his tremendous success in the field of tennis. And since the list will continue forever if I go on counting his achievements, I will rather stop here. However, he wasn’t born successful. No one is. But the hardships he endured during his childhood make him even more respectful and a greater person in the eyes of his fans.
Adversities he overcame in his Childhood
He was born in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and was brought up there. His childhood wasn’t easy at all as it was the time of several wars. He said in an interview “My upbringing was in Serbia during several wars during the ’90s, difficult times, embargoes in our country where we had to wait in line for bread, milk, water, some basic things in life. These kinds of things make you stronger and hungrier for success I think in whatever you choose to do. That probably has been my foundation, the very fact that I came from literally nothing and difficult life circumstances together with my family and with my people.”
He faced difficulty, struggled but didn’t quit. Coming from such a humble background and soaring so high in his career as well as life is quite an inspiration. The attitude he has had since his childhood is what has made him reach the peak of success.
Meeting with his Passion
He was introduced to the game he would make a career on, at the age of just four. Serbian tennis player and coach Jelena Gencic who spotted Novak Djokovic in 1983 in a fast-food joint, was the one to identify his amazing skills and went on to coach him until 1999.
Arrangements were made by Gencic herself for his further training under former Croatian tennis player Nikola Pilic. Novak’s international debut was made in 2001 at the young age of 14. He won the European championship’s singles and doubles titles. And the never-ending successful journey started.
That was again about his achievements. No doubt, he is a star in the field of sports.
But there are many attributes that make me look up to him apart from his prodigious career. And I would like to discuss those now.
Exceptional talent combined with a strong character is what makes Novak Djokovic. Extremely devoted to his professional life, he is also devoted to humanitarian work.
He founded the “Novak Djokovic Foundation” in November 2007 to help provide proper education and other essential resources to the underprivileged children of Siberia so that they could lead a better life. Not just that, he also donated $20,000 for the early childhood program undertaken by “Melbourne City Mission”.
Let’s find out about his diet!
Another aspect of Novak Djokovic that makes him the perfect mentor to learn from, is his dedication to maintaining his diet. Needless to mention, his fitness routine includes his daily exercise. His day starts with Yoga or Tai Chi, followed by a healthy breakfast. His day consists of heavy workouts using weights, stretching exercises. He intakes protein drinks immediately after the 1-hour workout that he does in the afternoon. Gluten and dairy products stay out of his diet and sugar intake is also restricted. Vegetables, beans, white meat, fruit, nuts, lentils, and all such healthy stuff are consumed by Novak Djokovic. Another interesting thing is he concentrates solely on his food while eating. It takes discipline and dedication to maintain such a diet.
Special Attributes Contributing to His Greatness
Let’s talk about some more qualities that contribute to making him an extraordinary being and which I aspire to imbibe in me.
Each one of us should possess the ability to be grateful in our lives. Last but not the least, I would mention his most special characteristics which I strive to implement in my life- gratitude and spirituality. A proud Christian, Novak is a religious man who believes in culminating positive emotions.
Hence, with a plethora of goodness, pool of talent, and life of inspiration, Novak Djokovic is and will always be the mentor I’ll look up to.
I find the perfect end to this article in his own words, “I don’t like to talk too much about myself, but I consider myself and everything as a divine soul. I consider myself a man grateful for everything he is, who wants to realize his thoughts on this planet and in this life. I am very happy to be healthy, to have a family, succeed in my great love, and that is the sport of tennis. Overall, I feel complete.”
Jay Shetty Owning His Life
Jay Shetty has all that any 30 years old would aspire to have in their life. Money, fame, success, and love from millions of people all around the world. This is what most of us would like to hear about a personality of his stature, But what we need to hear instead is Jay Shetty has had all it takes to be what he is today and what millions of people aspire to have. Discipline; dedication; enthusiasm; vision; adaptability; and a strong purpose.
If you by any chance have not heard the name of Jay Shetty before or do not know his life story, I’ll quickly take you through it. After reading which, I am pretty sure, you’ll be left with quite a great impression. ‘Cause, that’s how Jay Shetty and his story are – impressive!
A Great Many Accomplishments
A content creator, storyteller, and award-winning host today, Jay Shetty went through many transformations in his life. Let’s rewind and see what exactly the transformation is I am referring to. Back in his early years, he was a shy boy who preferred to spend his time reading books. That was a time when he was even bullied for being overweight. Fast forward to his teen years, he became a guy who looked for thrill and adventure in everything. Those are the years of exploration for most teenagers anyway. And interestingly that also led him to troubles including suspension from his school on several occasions. He was involved in multiple relationships and even drugs. All the bad things a person does in a bad company. Fortunately, it didn’t take him long to figure out what he wanted from his life and find a path that directed not only him towards a fulfilling life but million others who he serves and influences.
The question is how this magical transformation happened? The answer to which Jay Shetty himself shared in an interview. A monk. Yes, the defining moment of his life was when he listened to the words of a monk at the age of 18. It was then that he decided to turn into a monk himself and find the answers to life by following their lifestyle. After three years of living the life of a monk and gaining extensive knowledge through the ancient Vedas, he started implementing all the principles he had learned during the years as a monk in his life. Enlightened Jay wanted to share his knowledge with the world and he did it. In the blink of an eye, he went on to become a viral influencer with the purpose of “making wisdom go viral”.
He launched his YouTube channel in 2016. Over 20 million people follow him and his videos get more than a billion views today. Jay was named in the Forbes 30 under 30.
He has worked with many well-known brands all over the world including Google, Coca-cola, Microsoft, and Accenture. But the list of his achievements does not stop here. There’s more he has to his name which you can find easily anywhere on the internet. But my motive here is not to count his successes but to share the many lessons we can learn from his journey.
The decision of being a monk right after graduation was not easy. It came at the cost of turning down offers from reputed companies and a life of instant pleasure. At the time when his fellow graduates were looking for jobs and settlement, he chose to be a monk ignoring the outside noise and expectations one is burdened with after graduation. But he made the tough decision anyway which changed him for the better and in a way contributed to what he is today. All this was made possible because he was willing to challenge himself for something he believed in. And he believed in the lifestyle of a monk leading to fulfillment and bliss. No doubt he is blissful! If had not opened his mind to the words of the monk whose meeting transformed his perspective, he would never have been the Jay Shetty he is today.
Many people waste their time on social media and blame technology for it. There are people who use social media platforms to spread hate and false information. The youth spends their time watching Netflix and then face the negative consequences. How many people think of making a career using the power of social media and impact lives? How many people use technology to bring a positive change in people’s lives? A few wise individuals. Jay Shetty is the live example of such people who use technology for the betterment of society instead of letting it destroy them. Anything and everything comes with advantages and disadvantages of its own. So does technology. Jay Shetty uses social media to disseminate knowledge in an entertaining way. It not only shows how one can make the best use of resources at hand but also proves whether we allow ourselves to be affected positively or negatively by technology is up to us.
You might have heard Jay Shetty emphasizing finding a meaning or a strong purpose in life. A reason we can hold on to do the right thing and take the right action. A reason strong enough to get up every day with the mission to fulfill it. A reason strong enough to enable us to stick to our commitments and continue giving efforts to what holds meaning and value. And I cannot agree more on this. Without a purpose in our life, I don’t think we can drive ourselves towards reaching our highest potential. People who succeed in making a huge impact are the ones driven by a purpose. Hence until we find our reason, we should keep exploring. What keeps you excited, energized, and motivated is your ultimate purpose.
If we only ever dream of getting a particular result, we are bound to fail from achieving it. For making the dream come true, we have to do things that may be hard, take challenges, and persevere until the result we dreamt of getting is at our hands. During the three years Jay spent as a monk, he did things to gain control over his mind. He followed the entire process instead of just wanting the results. The daily routine of a monk consists of waking up at 4, meditating for about 4-6 hours a day, and so on. He did all that. And that’s the greatest lesson we can take from his life. Getting out of our comfort zone to attain the results we aim for.
The influence Jay Shetty has over people is because he is true to what he is doing. Delivering content consistently that really stays with the audience is not easy but Jay Shetty makes it seem effortless. Most likely that’s because he is passionate about creating content. When we are passionate about something, we give our heart and soul to it. No wonder, why people following their passion are happy and satisfied with their lives as compared to people stuck with things they despise doing.
But finding and following our passion isn’t a cakewalk. Is it? So here’s what Jay has got to say to make it easy. We need to ask ourselves what we are good at, what we love doing, how we can get paid for doing that thing, and what the world needs. These four questions can help us find our passion. We wouldn’t want a life of success unless it is accompanied by happiness and fulfillment. People who turn their passion into a career are the happiest. One of the reasons I follow Jay Shetty is that he has found a way to do just that.
Have you ever wondered how some people are able to grasp the grim realities of life and catalyze a chain reaction of changes conducive to our personal growth and development even without knowing us personally? If you have then you probably would have heard about motivational speakers. Jim Rohn is one of the pioneers of the field and remains one of the tallest towering figures. He was an acclaimed author, an enigmatic entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, and a personal development mentor. His contribution to personal development stands unparalleled as he not only unraveled intricacies of work ethics to help people in the work sphere but also propounded philosophies about subtler aspects of life like happiness and ambition.
A Celebrated Motivational Speaker
Jim Rohn has been a celebrated motivational speaker with the likes of Tony Robbins, Mark Hughes, Les Brown, Brian Tracy under his able tutelage. He has been instrumental in paving the path for other motivational and public speakers as he was among the first who experimented with the idea of delivering motivational speeches in an interactive setting with large live audiences and holding public seminars. These events catered to the public as well as the specialists thus breaking the conventional barrier of information vacuum.
A Few of His Many Contributions
He authored countless self-help books, produced digitized manuscripts in the form of audio and video lectures to help equip an entire generation of corporation executives, businessmen, personal development trainers, and the public at large with the required mental acumen and ethics. His works like “Take Charge of Your Life” and “The Art of Exceptional Living” have not only proven to be a success at the sales side but have been critically acclaimed by academics.
Journey of the Self-Made Man
Jim Rohn is a story of a self-made man who raked in millions in fortune and went on to inspire millions. He has donned many hats ranging from an entrepreneur to author and motivational speaker. He was a man of conviction but paid more heed to prudence than conventions as from an early age we see him taking roads that were not taken often, he dropped out of his college after the first year, quitting a stable distributorship job and subsequently pursuing his passion of business adventures.
In 1957, after resigning his distributorship with AbundaVita, he joined Nutri-Bio, another direct selling company. It was a big turning point in his career as the company’s founders, including Shoaff, started to mentor him. After this mentorship, Rohn acquired the required intellectual capital and built one of the largest organizations within the company. He followed every bit of advice he could glean from him and became a paragon of direct marketing distributor. Within just six years, he earned his first fortune but then lost the millions he had made. Pondering over this he made the observation that, “Whether you win or whether you earn a million dollars, best you quickly learn how to be a millionaire, or you will lose it.” Rohn then almost miraculously made that money back in just a few short years saying, “The second time I made a fortune was much easier than the first time, because I knew how to.” In 1963, Rohn delivered his first public speech and began traveling across the country, sharing his personal experiences coupled with his business acumen which eventually led to scores of media houses and people in general referring to him as a business philosopher.
A Great Humanitarian
Jim devoted a large part of his life giving back to society through his teaching and lectures about how to gain success in business. For nearly 5 decades, Rohn was one of the most influential business-related motivational speakers and authors across the globe. He has notably been the mentoring force behind Tony Robbins and received the 1985 National Speakers Association CPAE Award for excellence in speaking.
Fast forward to many years into the next century when it’s been decades to his death, yet we still see his videos popping up in YouTube and raking in millions of views, his speeches streaming across multiple podcast platforms and his presence unblemished at least in the virtual world. This speaks volumes about the relevance of his ideas even in an age where business structures and technologies have undergone manifold changes.
Quotes to Live By
If you’re looking to succeed at the finance front or just become a better version of yourself then there are no better words of wisdom than those coming from a true great, and one of my hero’s, Jim Rohn. These are not simply quotable quotes, but deep thought-provoking wisdom shared in words. Here are 15 of the most profound quotes that have impacted my life significantly.
Many a time it’s not the structural or procedural stagnation that inhibits us from progressing further in our career, business or life but understanding of the grim realities of our situations and the guidance of the experienced. Wisdom Is precious and timeless thus these words of wisdom can be revisited any number of times. These can be treated both as signboards and light posts that both show the path and illuminate it.
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