Books are Great Mentors
“For neither is it histories we are writing, but lives, nor is there by any means display of merit or vice in the most outstanding actions, but often a trivial matter as well as a remark and some joke have offered a better illustration of character than clashes with countless casualties and the biggest battalions and sieges of cities.”
Plutarch
Our greatest mentors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are 6’ tall. Some are 5’9” (and argue they are much taller). Some even get up to 6’5”. But I have found that the most important ones are 6 inches x 9 inches.
If you are not aware, that’s the size of the average book.
I have had many times in my life where I felt like I needed a mentor and honestly, I look back and cringe because I am realizing that I didn’t look at the ones right in front of me. I had easy access to gain understanding and have my questions answered but I was too narrow minded.
I thought that a mentor had to be someone sitting across from me at a table answering my questions. Or someone who stayed up late answering my emails. But I’ve since come to realize that my mentors are not limited by my direct connection to them.
There are giants who came before me and I can stand on their shoulders and be influenced by their wisdom. That’s truly what a mentor is - an experienced and trusted advisor.
Who better to learn about directing films than Martin Scorcese?
He has a Masterclass online.
Who better to learn the craft of writing and specifically the horror genre?
Stephen King has an amazing book called On Writing that is excellent. It actually might just be my favorite book of all time!
Why limit myself to those I can meet with and converse with at a diner?
Why not open it up and get mentored any time I want? Why not read the great books?
Will Smith once said this about reading:
“For reading: there have been gazillions of people that have lived before all of us. There's no new problem you could have--with your parents, with school, with a bully. There's no new problem that someone hasn't already had and written about it in a book.”
Let a book mentor you. After all, they cost what an okay meal between friends would cost and they can drastically change your life if you just give them the time of day. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes. Don’t skip over the ones that you think are too small to teach you anything.
TODAY’s CHALLENGE - Find a topic you’ve been wanting to learn about and find a book on it! And once you find it, get it! And then here’s the real kicker: Read it! And if you want to go above and beyond, Apply it!
And if you don’t have the means to buy a book (even though I bet you can afford at least one), see if your local library has it. Ask a friend who might have the book. Or ask for a loan from someone. Or go to Barnes & Noble and just grab it and take it to the café inside and read it there. If not, ask me, I’ll get you the money to buy it!