Sometimes we can make mentoring too complicated. At the most basic level, if you want to learn how to do something new, you find someone who knows how and you watch them.
That’s all mentoring is – an experienced person showing someone with less experience how to do something. To grow, all you need to do is copy someone else.
Salman Khan founded the
Khan Academy based on the premise that repetition helps people to learn. He estimates that you need to repeat a given exercise ten times to learn a particular lesson.
We need to practice doing things to acquire skills.
I’ve noticed that a lot of 20-somethings get a passion for something and feel like the next natural step for them is to go start their own deal.
But if someone comes to me and asks me what their next step should be to put their passion into practice, my advice is usually that they don’t do this. A better approach is to go and serve someone else first.
Apprentice under someone who is already doing what you want to do. Learn from their example and coaching and you’ll get to your own dream much faster.
Miguel Santiago is a good example of this principle – he had a vision for starting a ministry in the Dominican Republic in 2002. But he went and served our team in Mexico for two years first. What he learned has been invaluable now that he is leading his own ministry in the D.R.
Not only is it practical, to imitate someone else, it’s biblical. In fact, it’s the basis for discipleship. Over and over again we see in Scripture that this is how people learned to grow in faith – by copying or imitating someone else. Some sample verses:
“Take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Phil 3:17
“You are going thru the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” Phil 1:30
“Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” 1 Cor 4:16
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seem in me – put it into practice.” Phil 4:9
“Join with others in following my example.” Phil 3:17
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:1
“Imitate those who thru faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebr 6:12
“You became imitators of us and the Lord.” 1 Thess 1:6
“You became imitators of God’s churches.” 1 Thess 2:14
How do you want to grow in life and faith? God doesn’t expect you to learn in a vacuum. He gives us examples for us to imitate. Do you have someone in your life you want to imitate? If not, how can you find them?
How many time should I remind myself, that I’m following Seth Barnes?!! You are modeling what I’m dreaming. Thank you.
wow, hard to believe that mustache was around as recently as this century. love you and always love your wisdom!
Amazingly simple truth. This is how I think people need to learn marriage and parenting skills too. Imagine…
Good word Seth…thanks.
As a basketball coach, my team becomes proficient at a task after we do it hundreds of times, and then after they learn it, we do it over and over again to refine and make us even more proficient. Hmmm? Something to learn here when it comes to the dreams God gives us.
Now if I’d just learn to copy your mad blogging skills! Appreciate the good word, the direction, and fathering you have provided over the years. Love you Seth.
miguel
Seth, thanks for sticking w/ Mike. I knew him as “Mikey from Gretna” and the kid who slammed my cougar door into a carload of gals who looked like they just left the set of a Jerry Springer Show.
Phil. 1:3 best describes my mindset concerning him. I love that guy and look forward to the day when my whole family takes a trip down to the D.R. to serve him and the kingdom work that is being done there.
Wes
Wes, that story makes my day! Thanks for sharing.
awesome insight