With one of my Mentors, Brewy, having his first round of radiotherapy this week, I have been thinking a lot about our friendship and what I would consider a mentorship. It is awful to think that only a few weeks ago the great man was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer. Post surgery he now faces many months of treatment in order to bounce back.
He says "I don't mind being a pin-up boy for beating the odds" and true, he's done it before after a horrendous car accident many years ago. Talk about a cat with nine lives. It is probably from this and his general approach to life that I also learnt a huge amount about positiveness and making the most of out of life. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea. He certainly polarised people with his energy. You were either with him or left behind. For me, I felt I had a lot to learn from him and a number of my other rowing coaches and friends who acted as mentors (probably some didn't even realise they were doing it!)
I've been in Germany now for 2 1/2 years and notice that I miss having people around to inspire and motivate me. Without it i'm also going pretty well in life! No doubt about that however there is something to be said for having a strong network of support around. Being a foreigner it is difficult to find those people and maybe it is not as much a part of the non-work culture here. Finding the right mentors as part of that network is not easy and in the hustle and bustle of today's life it's rare to find people that go out of their way to just be around to impart their knowledge and third party perspectives.
I look back on my work life and sporting life and hope i've shared of my thoughts in a positive way and also maybe been somewhat of a mentor. I will do my best to recognise when people are looking for that support and hope that others will too. Because in a non-egoistic way it's important to recognise that and then invest your time into others.
To Brewy - best of luck mate. I know whatever they throw at you, you'll fight back harder.
He says "I don't mind being a pin-up boy for beating the odds" and true, he's done it before after a horrendous car accident many years ago. Talk about a cat with nine lives. It is probably from this and his general approach to life that I also learnt a huge amount about positiveness and making the most of out of life. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea. He certainly polarised people with his energy. You were either with him or left behind. For me, I felt I had a lot to learn from him and a number of my other rowing coaches and friends who acted as mentors (probably some didn't even realise they were doing it!)
I've been in Germany now for 2 1/2 years and notice that I miss having people around to inspire and motivate me. Without it i'm also going pretty well in life! No doubt about that however there is something to be said for having a strong network of support around. Being a foreigner it is difficult to find those people and maybe it is not as much a part of the non-work culture here. Finding the right mentors as part of that network is not easy and in the hustle and bustle of today's life it's rare to find people that go out of their way to just be around to impart their knowledge and third party perspectives.
I look back on my work life and sporting life and hope i've shared of my thoughts in a positive way and also maybe been somewhat of a mentor. I will do my best to recognise when people are looking for that support and hope that others will too. Because in a non-egoistic way it's important to recognise that and then invest your time into others.
To Brewy - best of luck mate. I know whatever they throw at you, you'll fight back harder.