Finding a mentor can be a challenging thing, luckily for me my dad can be the mentor I need in my life. He comes to me as the owner of a small business and runs the business with my uncle. Throw in the fact that they took over the business from my grandfather and you have an interesting family dynamic for running a business. I wanted to have my dad as my mentor for this class because, he comes with 25 years worth of experience in working in the business and has been leading the company for about 10 years now. He comes with a vast amount of experience being able to see how a company runs under one set of management and now seeing what its like as he runs the business. I also can get great insight on what its like for him as a Christian to be in charge of a business of non-believers and believers and how this affects his relationship with Christ. It is also interesting to see how the business works as the two men who control the business both have college degrees and most of the employees don't have college educations.
Meeting with a mentor who is your dad can be a bit awkward as we don't typically talk to much about the business at home but instead connect on other areas in life. It can also be easier to talk to someone like your own dad because I know that he will never have any judgements about me and the mistakes that I've made but, instead, he will be there to help me through my struggles and problems. Our recent talks have been helpful as he can give me real life experiences about something I'm interested in and what its like to be in a position of power. The talks really help me understand the position you can be put in as a manager and how people will react to you. They also help me see how my dads faith has been put to the test and how he grows from experience, and how i can also learn these lessons as he goes through them.
My dad cares about me so it is easy to have difficult talks with him, both about my future plans and the struggles i have now. He wants me to strive to be my best and succeed in areas where he fails. It is also helpful that I know him to be a Christian so I can see his Christian viewpoint flow through his life at work and outside of the office. Im thankful to have a dad who can be so open about his personal life and who invests so deeply in my life.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all it is awesome that you as a son respect and value the wisdom and knowledge of your father. But furthermore it is even more intriguing to see you share that you are aware of the impact that the well of your father's knowledge and experience can have in guiding you during this time in your life, young adulthood, that is considered as pivotal for the journey into your future career path. While it can be easy to take in the advice of your father without truly absorbing it, I believe from your post that you are taking strong care for the meetings with your dad to be invaluable in your growth as both a man and businessman.
I would encourage you to additionally ask your father about specific coworkers or coworker types with whom he has either flourished or struggled in working with. I have done the same with my dad, and that has provided the moments at which my father's conversations with me, concerning my working future, have been most impactful.
I can identify pretty well with what you posted Stephen. My dad has been unbelievably influential in my life in numerous ways. He is also a small business owner and I have also been able to witness how he handles certain situations using his faith as a guide and trusting in the Lord. My biggest response to what you have said is just that those of us who have fathers who are invested in our lives should never take it for granted and should thank God often for it because it is a true blessing. I don't know if you have ever read the book "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge but in it he talks about how important the role of the father is in boys becoming men. Mothers have their place obviously and are crucial to raising children in countless ways, but in terms of boys becoming men, and especially men of God, having a Christ-following father is a huge blessing. I think this is just as much for myself as anyone because I'm also talking to myself here. I will also be posting about my father.
ReplyDeleteStephen,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Great post. Great post. Great post. It does my heart well to see many of my classmates, including you, having a great relationship with their father. The relationship between father and son/daughter is so important for growth. A lot of people are not close to their parents, and they would not feel comfortable sharing any aspects of their lives with them. Having a good relationship with your parents is really cool and I'm glad you have acknowledged your dad as your mentor.
It is clear to see that your dad is a man of faith. It is also clear to see that he cares tremendously for you. I will echo the words of Ben and say that having a Christ following father is a huge blessing! I hope that you will grow closer with your dad and also to Christ through this mentoring experience.
L
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteI think it's so cool you look to your dad to be your mentor. To look at the resources you already have in your life, even in your immediate family, and make full use of those relationships is awesome. I pray that your dad can be a constant voice of wisdom for you in your life, and that you can learn from him as you seek to learn. The fact that your father is someone so strong in faith is already setting you off on a trajectory with great wisdom, and I pray for you as you continue to learn more from your dad!
Kevin
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteI think asking your dad about his business is a great opportunity for you to really get to know what it is like to be a manager. Talking to your father removes a lot of the formality that can make brutal honesty hard. Your dad can be totally honest with you about the positives and the negatives of being a manager. I also think that learning what it is like to be a Christian manager in charge of non-believers is very important. It is awesome that you get to learn this from your dad and not have to figure it out all on your own. I do have one question: are you planning on going into the family business when you graduate?