Thread by @ronaldnzimora

21 Lessons My Mentor Taught Me

Lesson 5: Never Ask of Others What You Can Do For Yourself

#MentorDiaries

Let's go!

On this day, I was in my mentor's office. I had called ahead to book an appointment to see him.

As I sat in the lobby, waiting to be called in, my heart was beating with trepidation. I was about to do something I wasn't comfortable doing.

I was about to ask Dr. for a loan.

When I went in, he beamed and went, "Ron! What brings you here today?"

To be honest, I was tongue tied. Then just so I lost courage and not ask again, I blurted out, "Sir, I am sorry but I... I need a loan, Sir"

Dr. Ojeagbase looked at me, sat back in his chair and... silence.

After what seemed like an eternity,but which probably wasn't more than a few minutes,Dr Ojeagbase broke the silence.

"Ronald,I will not give you a loan".

"Damn!" I thought. "I should have known it! Now I have put myself in a bad spot"

Dr. Ojeagbase: But I will help you get...

what you want.

First things first though, what do you need the money for?"

Ronald: I need to pay rent, Sir. It's expiring next month.

Dr. Ojeagbase: That's the more reason you don't need a loan. You are a businessman. What sort of business person can't pay their rent?

It's either you're paying too much rent for the income you make or you're making too little income for the capabilities you possess. And in your case, I think its the latest."

Another silence.

Dr. Ojeagbase: How much have you made this month?

Ronald: Quotes a number.

Dr. Ojeagbase: "Here's what we'll do, Ronald. I will help you earn your rent. Go create some ebook on a topic people are asking questions about. You know what to do. Write a salesletter & get back to me in one week."

So off I went and did exactly so.

One week later I was back.

Dr. Ojeagbase: "Alright, you're going to run an advert selling your ebook. And we'll see how much you'll make before the next three weeks is up. Start with a classified ad, then reinvest in larger ad sizes."

To cut the story short,at the end of 3 weeks, I had the money I needed.

Dr Ojeagbase invited me to his office to do a review and that's when he told me, "Ronald, the biggest sin you can commit in a mentor-mentee relationship and indeed any kind of relationship is to be a burden.

Mentor's are human beigns too. They have their own issues too. What...

you should never do is add to it, no matter how simply you think your problem is for them to handle. The first time they may not mind. But then because you got a pass, you become lazy and you will do it again. Then they will take note. And when it happens again, you start to bore

them, then they start to avoid you, and then they start to resent you.

It's worse when you came to them with the mission to learn to learn to stand on your own, and is read of doing that, you become a burden to them. Don't ask of other people what you can do for yourself."

Then he continued.

"You should have a plan for earning enough money to pay your bills, grow your business and invest what's left."

And he helped me draw a plan. A plan I have tweeked over the years but which I still use its foundations to this day.

What he said is profound.

You see these days, people come to you saying they want you to mentor them, but what they're looking for is someone to abdicate their responsibilities to. They want someone who will take over their all their problems and solve them all for them.

Mentorship isn't burdensome.

It's a privilege that someone with experience is showing youbthe say. Don't cast your burdens on them. They are not Jesus Christ.

Watch, learn and do what they tell you to do. That's how you reach your goals fast.

Class is over for today ✌🏾👌🏾👍🏾.

P. S. One more thing. I forgot to mention it. 🙂

After I paid the rent, Dr. Ojeagbase called me to his office and gave me a check for the full amount I asked for as a gift.

I was blown away! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

I LOVE THAT MAN. I LOVE YOU SIR!