One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve heard for my personal and career development is, "A mentor is an invitation to the next level."
But what happens when you are at your next level, and people look to you to get to their next level? Well, I think the same rule applies.
Mentors need mentors.
And when a person has a mentor, values the mentor, and submits themselves to the requirements that come with a mentor, then one way or another, that person gets to their next level.
Right before I retired from playing professional basketball, I was introduced to a career path in athletics that I had not heard of before - Student-Athlete Development. I learned that in this role, a person can enhance the student-athlete experience by providing intentional programming around various topics that help the athlete achieve success outside of their sport. Student-Athlete Development Professionals care for the whole person - not just the athlete.
When I retired from playing professional basketball in 2022, I knew I wanted to pursue that career path, but I had no idea how it was going to happen. So, I leaned on the advice I got years before about seeking out a mentor.
Insert Janice Hilliard, someone whom I was introduced to before and someone to whom I was reintroduced at the right time and right transition in my life.
Dr. Janice Hilliard became my mentor. I invited her into my life because she had accomplished so much and helped so many other women accomplish what I sought to do. I knew if I wanted to get to my next level, I needed her.
At the time, I was the study hall coordinator at Montverde Academy, a private college preparatory academy in central Florida. They were the #1 basketball program for girls and boys, as well as state champions in several other sports. Becoming the study hall coordinator was a strategic move and one that humbled me. Although I was only in study hall, I had a vision that I could be much more.
So, I began my mentor-mentee relationship with Dr. Hilliard while getting to know Montverde Academy. I began networking, learning new skills, observing the environment and culture of the school, and most importantly investing in a future that I knew was possible for me.
Dr. Hilliard and I spent the larger part of that school year working together. She helped me develop a plan for Montverde Academy's student-athletes. I had the idea that if I could just meet the right people and show my passion and value, then an opportunity could open up for me. The following year I was invited to become an assistant basketball coach at Montverde Academy. While it was not the role that I initially sought out, it was indeed an open door. And just like my dad always told me, "When God opens a door, you have to explore everything that’s in the house." So that's what I did.
I served as an assistant coach, developing skills, and making several mistakes. I had no idea then, but that year ended up being one of the most foundational years of my career because I started to understand how valuable a coach can be in a player's life. Yes, I’ve had several coaches in my youth, college, and professional basketball career - but there is no knowledge like first-hand knowledge. That basketball season, we ended up winning a national championship. It was a great year with a fantastic staff that yielded great results.
My passion for student-athlete development didn’t go away; in fact, it deepened as I began to see how our student-athletes struggled and developed throughout the year. While I wasn’t in daily contact with Dr. Hilliard during that basketball season, we did keep in touch from time to time.
A month or so before the school year ended, our AD asked if I still had an interest in student-athlete development. I reached out to Dr. Hilliard to share that the work we'd done together was not in vain - I was being named the Student-Athlete Development Coordinator at Montverde Academy.
I was finally going to get an opportunity to put into practice everything that we had worked on. I've been in the role for a few months now, and I lean on Dr. Hilliard like never before. She's provided an abundance of wisdom, knowledge, and resources for my personal and career development.
Through the day-to-day grind of coaching and leading young people, I've held fast to the fact that mentors need mentors.
The benefits of a mentor cannot be overstated.
Mentors provide awareness – as humans, we have blind spots. Places that we can’t see. We only know what we know, and a mentor has the ability to see. They bring us awareness about the things that could trip us up, that could stop our growth or things that can be of benefit to us if we open our eyes and learn how to take advantage of them. Awareness is important.
Mentors provide guidance – how many times have you had a great idea, with no knowledge of how to execute it? A mentor has been there and done that. A mentor has walked in the places that you are yet to walk. They’ve seen people make mistakes around them when a mistake did not have to be made. A mentor grabs your hand and says, "This is how you do it, this is what you should consider, and these are the pitfalls if you don’t make certain considerations."
Mentors provide clarity – every day of my new position looks completely different. Sometimes I'll plan to work on one thing, and a new problem arises. Many people can relate, and it can be very difficult to see through the weeds of everything that is happening around you. It can be easy to get distracted, lose focus, and lose sight of what is important. Mentors can help provide focus, can help you recommit to your values, and asks thought-provoking questions that will open your eyes in ways that you could not have done by yourself.
Mentors provide feedback – if growth is your aim, then feedback needs to be a constant pursuit in your life. Often we shy away from feedback because it shines a light on things that we possibly aren’t doing well. But people who want to grow, crave feedback and mentors can provide that. A great mentor provides feedback in a way that you can receive it but understand that there will be times when you have to be rubbed the wrong way to grow.
Mentors help expand your network – one of the greatest benefits of having a mentor is leaning into that person's network. Don’t take it lightly when a person opens you up to their network because it means that they will put their name on the line for you. That says a lot, and it also demands that you bring value in some way - when a person invests in you, you must deliver!
Having a mentor is not always comfortable because it requires you to open up your life to another person, receive feedback, and at times, flat-out correction.
But the benefits far outweigh the discomfort.
I found in my life that the quote is absolutely true: a mentor really does serve as an invitation to the next level – whatever your next level is.
As you seek growth and success in your life, I encourage you to seek out a mentor for different areas of your life. You won’t regret it.
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