There are three plans.
1. One for an individual that is only between you (A Mentee) and another older, wiser woman (a Mentor). A
good Mentoring plan can be as simple as a morning cup of coffee with a dear, respected friend; or as complicated as professional,
intense counseling sessions with weekly accountability required. Only you know where you are and what kind of a Mentor
you will need to help you.
For some, all they need is a gentle nudge; others must be bombed out of their comfort zone.
You certainly don't want to get a Mentor who won't speak into your life truth and who is unable to bomb you out of
the comfort zone if thats what you need.
Nor do you want to have a Mentor who comes on too strong and is unable to be gentle with you if thats all you need.
Sooooo, how DO you chose a Mentor as an individual ?
One thing is sure. We all need mentoring. We all need someone to care enough to take the time and make the
effort to speak into our lives.
Mentors are for the most part people who donate their time to help you. They receive no pay, so it takes the heart
of a person in your behalf to agree that they shall mentor you for the period of time you might need.
While:
Moms and Dads are mentors.
Aunts and Uncles are mentors.
Friends are sometimes mentors.
Teachers are sometimes mentors.
Pastors are sometime mentors.
Neighbors are sometime mentors.
"Where are the mentors when you need one and they are busy with their own life if
you haven't specifically chosen one ahead of time for the job ? You have to plan ahead, especially for the
day you decide you might need a mentor". Marcia Kendall
Ask yourself three (3) questions:
1. Who do I know that I feel has insight on everyday problems?
2. Who do I know that I trust to speak into my life ?
3. Who could I ask to take time with me to give me help in an area of my home, my office, my job or career, _________(school,
church, etc. fill in the blank).
Now, you are thinking of someone. Perhaps some 'someone's'. Write their names on your pad. It is important
that you ask someone of your own gender and older than you to Mentor your life. This is wisdom and it is a
safety factor.
You may have a list of 'someone's'. This is good. Place along side of their name, their strong suit that
you have observed and what you feel you might learn from them.
Now go to the telephone and call each, let them know you are pursuing further information on ______________.
(children, home, career, school, name your subject from the list). Ask if they would consider speaking into
your life on a consistent basis for a time to be thought of and discussed between you and she that might help in your
own personal growth pattern.
Should you receive an affirmative, ask for a meeting where you and she enjoy a _______(coffee, coke,
pie) for no more than 30 -40 minutes of their time. You will pay for this since you are asking for their time.
If you did not get an affirmative, go back to the three questions and chose another. Don't let this throw you
if someone just don't have the time available. Don't stop asking. There is someone who will be willing to help
you.
Once you do get an affirmative, draw up some thoughts to explain what you want to discuss at your first meeting.
Give this to your future Mentor as well as a printed
Basic Mentoring Agreement Between Your Mentor . This agreement gives a basis to your expectations which you will agree upon ahead of time.
Make this time fun, light, cheerful and short. Do not do anything more than this at this first meeting.
It is important. Plan your next meeting, time and place, and get started !
The Second type of mentoring which shall be added to this Web Site in days to come is for Group Mentoring. This
can be used by a group from your social, religious, or political club or organization.
The Third type of mentoring can be done through a small home group that is entitled "W.I.N.G.S." The
acronym means 'Women In Networking Groups Succeed', where a woman will mentor a group at a time. This is only available
through a five week course headquartered in Dallas, Texas under the leadership of a credible F.L.A.M.E. womens network leader.
Upon the completion of the WINGS course, a participant gains her 'WINGS' and is now certified to teach other women to
soar above the obstackles and challenges of life to become 'more than a conqueror'. Having gained her WINGS,
the participant is now a certified leader able to establish and lead the course of WINGS.
This information will be detailed at a later time.
