30 Inspirational quotes about making the most of mentoring

Just as every tree needs a sturdy stake to grow straight and tall, every person needs a mentor who can provide them with guidance, support, and encouragement. A good mentor inspires you, pushes you, opens doors, expands your horizons, and equips you with the tools and confidence to reach your potential.

Without mentoring, some of the world's greatest leaders, innovators, and role models would not have reached their full potential.

For example:

• Martin Luther King Jr. was mentored by Benjamin E. Mays, who encouraged him to pursue his doctoral degree and helped him develop his leadership skills. 
• Warren Buffett was mentored by Benjamin Graham, a successful investor, and author, who taught him the principles of value investing and helped him build his financial empire.
• Oprah Winfrey was mentored by Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, and author, who inspired her to become a media mogul and use her platform for good.

In this article, we have compiled a list of inspiring mentoring quotes to remind you of the importance of mentorship relationships and to inspire you to become a mentor or find one to guide you on your journey.

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Inspiring quotes about finding a mentor

Not everything can be learned from books or the internet. Sometimes, the only way to reach our full potential is to learn directly from someone who has been there and done that - a mentor. Such inspirational mentoring offers insights into situations that you may not have and that help you become the best version of yourself even in difficult times.

Additionally, finding the right mentors can provide you with connections and resources that are not readily available from other sources the reason 79% of millennials see mentoring as crucial to their career success.

1. "One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination." – John C. Maxwell
2. "A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you." – Bob Proctor
3. "A mentor is someone who can give you guidance, advice, and support when you need it." – Richard Branson
4. "A mentor empowers a person to see a possible future and believe it can be obtained." – Shawn Hitchcock
5. "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." - John Crosby
6. "A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself." – Oprah Winfrey
7. "Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow." – George Lucas
8. “You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself” — Galileo Galilei

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Inspiring quotes about thanking your mentor

It's important to remember that mentors invest their time and energy to help others, often expecting nothing in return. Therefore, expressing gratitude and thankfulness towards mentors is not only a sign of respect but also serves as a reminder of the invaluable role they played in our lives.

Many great leaders and role models have credited their success to the guidance and support of their mentors. It's a humbling reminder that even the most accomplished individuals didn't get to where they are today alone. They had someone who believed in them, challenged them, and ultimately helped them to achieve their full potential.

So, we must appreciate the mentors in our life, and let them know how much we value their presence in our journey.

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Following are the inspiring quotes of different role models about thanking their mentors

1. "My mentor said, 'Let's go do it,' not 'You go do it.' How powerful when someone says, 'Let's.'" – Jim Rohn
2. "I have had mentors over the years, and they have been invaluable. They have helped me prepare for opportunities." – Condoleezza Rice
3. "My mentor said, 'Take a walk. Write a poem. Take a day off.' Do something every day that reminds you that you are more than your career." – Terri Trespicio
4. "The best way to thank a mentor is to pay it forward, by becoming a mentor yourself." – Anonymous
5. "When you find your mentor, you find your destiny." – Myles Munroe
6. “We are what our great Mentors have taught us.” – Lailah Gifty Akita
7. We must find time to stop and thank those people who make a difference in our lives. – John F Kennedy
8. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

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Inspiring quotes about paying it forward

Mentoring is not only important for personal growth, but it also has a ripple effect. When someone teaches you a new skill, you feel a sense of duty to pass it on and teach others. So mentoring is about paying it forward.

As Nelson Mandela once said, "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special."

And that's the power of mentoring - it enables us to cultivate not only our heads and hearts but also our tongues and pens so that we can share our knowledge and wisdom with the world.

1. "The greatest good you can do for another does not just share your riches but to reveal to him his own." – Benjamin Disraeli
2. "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." – Audrey Hepburn
3.   "The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves." – Steven Spielberg
4. "The best way a mentor can prepare another leader is to expose him or her to other great people." – John C. Maxwell
5. ‘’If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb
6. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams
7. As a mentor, you have to be willing to put yourself in your mentee’s shoes to understand the struggles that they deal with. ― Toby Keith
8. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” –  Winston Churchill,
9. If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. — Booker T. Washington,

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Mentors are a compass of success

Imagine embarking on a challenging journey. You may have a map, but without a compass, it's easy to get lost and lose your way. The same can be said of navigating the ever-changing landscape of personal and professional development.

We all need guidance to help us navigate this terrain, and mentors are the compass that can lead us to success. Like the North Star that guided sailors through the night, a mentor can help us chart a course to our goals, providing direction, clarity, and inspiration when we need it most.

1. “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter
2. "If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before."- J Loren Norris
3. ‘’Tell me, and I forget, teach me, and I may remember, involve me, and I learn.’’ –Benjamin Franklin
4. Mentorship is the key to unlocking each of our entrepreneurial spirits. –Richard Branson
5. Getting a mentor is a shortcut to success. –Bo Sanchez

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Ready to kick-start your mentoring relationship?

Mentoring relationships provide a platform for the mentee to learn from the mentor's experiences, knowledge, and expertise in a particular field. You get access to the mentor's professional network, which can be valuable for job opportunities, collaborations, and further learning opportunities.

With an experienced mentor, you can gain valuable insight into strategies for overcoming challenges, learning from mistakes, and creating meaningful relationships. These strategies can help you in your career. A mentoring relationship also helps to create a sense of belonging and inclusivity in the workplace, and it can help to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Now you might be wondering where to start. Check out our blog on building a successful mentoring relationship. This can be a great head start to your mentoring relationship.