Some mentors are meant to be shared.
I know mentorship often feels deeply personal. The connection, the insights, the quiet moments that change everything. But I believe sharing is an act of service. When we’ve been shaped by people whose wisdom is extraordinary and whose generosity is rare, we owe it to others to pass that gift along.
How do I know this? Because I’ve done it. I’ve shared John Maxwell with thousands of people at Build IT Live. This year marked his third time with us, and like the finest things in life, he just keeps getting better. Not everyone in the room knew John when they walked in, but they definitely knew him by the time they left. And more importantly, they felt known.
Sunny shared his mentor too, Dan Sullivan. A man who hasn’t taken a public stage in over seven years. And yet, he showed up. For Sunny. Because Sunny knew Dan was someone worth sharing. Not only did Dan show up, his entire team and fellow Strategic Coach members showed up. All there to give back.
You see, we all learn (or at least, I hope we do:)). Our lives are shaped by voices that challenge and uplift us. Authors, teachers, spiritual leaders, even social influencers, though I’ll admit that one makes me shudder a bit. Whoever they are, they light a spark. And too often, we keep that spark to ourselves.
There’s an old saying that people are eight times more likely to share a bad experience than a good one. I think the same could be said of great mentors. We hesitate to share them. Maybe because we’re protective. Maybe because we worry they’ll get too busy, or they won’t have room for us anymore. But here’s the thing. Good mentors always have room. Their wisdom only grows when it’s multiplied.
So, what if we flipped the narrative?
What if we made it a habit to share our mentors, not just their names, but the lessons they’ve taught us? What if we introduced them to others with the same pride we have when recommending a great book or a favorite restaurant? What if we became the kind of leaders who not only absorb wisdom but circulate it?
This year at Build IT Live, we didn’t just have mentors on the main stage. We had mentors and coaches connecting in the lobby, hallways, at roundtables, and inside conversations that sparked new paths forward. We created over 65 one-on-one coaching opportunities. That’s in addition to the brilliance of Dan and John. And you know why we did it?
Because wisdom doesn’t belong in silos. It belongs in community. And when we share the voices that shaped us, we give others the chance to be shaped too.
So, here’s your nudge – because you all know I love to nudge (or hit you over the head with a sledge hammer:). Think of one person who’s changed your life. Now think of one person who needs to hear their message. Introduce them. Share the podcast, the book, the idea, the story. What’s ordinary to you might be transformational for someone else.
And maybe someday, someone will say the same thing about you. Let’s not just find mentors. Let’s become them. Let’s not hoard wisdom. Let’s pass it on.
That’s how we build a better world. One shared lesson at a time.
