My favorite personal slogan or mantra all 2020 has been "2020: The year of The Mez". It started off confessional I like to think, but it really has been
I mean "chwenty chwenty" has been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. A fear, anxiety, dopamine, love, courage, anger filled year. I can almost say I've felt every possible emotion this year.
Love (yes, the disgusting kind that doesn't allow you sleep well and makes you sweat profusely for no reason), Sorrow that could have been heavy depression, Anger (oh God, the anger phases would make for amazing cinema), And most importantly, HOPE.
And That HOPE I love to believe was pioneered from my relationship first with God. I'm getting a bit teary eyed thinking what it'd be like if I wasn't
momentarily hearing the voice of God telling me he somehow was aware of me and intentional about me somehow
Telling me things about myself I didn't know about me, that no other human being could communicate. Unfolding layers of myself to me I didn't know existed.
Man if you don't know God or think the concept of God is a joke, please have a rethink. He's real. So real. And he wants to hold you in his arms and whisper "I Love Yous" that catalyse life defining effects that can only come from them.
Back to topic. HOPE came from God...And MENTORS (some disguised as friends, I'm not calling names) but one especially had a catastrophically staggering effect on me and the craziest part is that it was from a distance. Quite a long distance for someone like me who is a sucker for intimacy.
Before I define mentorship I want to quickly say for a fact that whatever defining strides or progress I've made in the last 3-4 years of my life, whatever virtues I've built, whatever super powers I've learned to harness, whatever genius I've come to terms with, I can directly or indirectly attribute to Mentors I've come to embrace (In close proximity or from a distance).
I'm not certain about so many things, but the place of mentorship in any life I can speak for with my full chest and say it cannot be overrated.
SO WHO EXACTLY IS A MENTOR?
Wikipediasimply defines Mentorship as a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (fullstop) I'll add "down a specific pathway they have threaded and the lesser aspires to thread".
So a Mentor is simply a more experienced or knowledgeable person who guides a less experienced person often referred to as a Mentee
down a desired path.
I have quite a number (for different categories) but Ajulu won the gold medal this year. Because he has almost single handedly had the most effect this year.
Ajulu is a Digital Jedi Master I met through reading Eniolas newsletters called Moneyletters at a time when I knew my financial background and habits were going to ruin me in this life and I'd be surviving off tap water and coconut in my 40s if I didn't put them in check and get the necessary financial education.
(THANK YOU ENIOLA ORIOLOWO. REALLY, THANKS)
What sells this thing the most is the distance and the time. Ajulu has taught me by words and example so very much in about 7 months on Discipline, Hard-work, Boldness, Priorities, Focus…
Here is his substack link (ajulu.substack.com) Go see for yourself. And call me out if you regret the time you spend there. Especially if you have a strong desire for all round growth.
Mentorship is an unshakable principle (read my debut blog post on the inconsistency of luck and the place of principles in determining constant, sure success and good fortune).
A Universal and Spiritual Principle or Law for success. It is maybe my biggest takeaway from Real Estate master Robert Kiyosaki's financial literacy cult classic 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'
He basically said follow the rich and you'll be rich (fullstop)
A Spiritual principle embedded throughout scripture (perhaps my favorite and the most valid reference anyone needs) ; Moses & Joshua, Samuel & David, Elijah & Elisha, Jesus & The Twelve (who later become The Apostles and the foundation of the Church)
Even Hollywood and Pop culture know this; Mr Miyagi & The Karate Kid, Gandalf & Frodo...and my favorite one Yoda & Luke Skywalker.
This thing is a secret (not so secret) principle every successful person wields. You're no exception to this Law. Unless you want to struggle and hustle your way through everything. I don't want to toil so much.
I'd rather have someone show me the way. I'd rather go with experience and counsel.
You should too.
I mean I know the idea of authority and superiors is not very appealing. I like to consider myself very free spirited and I love the idea of not being confined by boxes. I mean it's the Human Condition to want total unbridled, absolute freedom and control. But therein this narrow, constrained road (Of Mentorship) is Life.
MENTORSHIP IS A CONSTRAINED SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE PATHWAY TO LIFE.
I had this pretty well written article or post about 'Canva', and the ongoing mud fight between free design tools and professional designers and branders, but it's Ajulus birthday, and 5am at about the time I was writing the outline and I couldn't simply shake off the stirrings in my gut to put out an ode to him and Mentors out there in 1,803 special heartfelt words.
WHAT SPECIFIC ROLES DO MENTORS PLAY IN BUSINESS (& DESIGN) ?
( My least favorite part of journaling, pointers. But I remember this was intended to be a design/ business platform)
Knowledge From A Wealth Of Experience: cause there's knowledge with no experience and results of which I've been a victim for years. It is a false illusion of empowerment that makes you proud and haughty.
Mentors or your choice in them should be people with results backing their bank of knowledge, cause they save you time and heartache by telling what actually works and what are just beautifully crafted words made to appeal to human reasoning.
Time is the most important resource bestowed on man by the curator of the realm. Don't waste it. There's so much to do and Be. There's latent power in the instruction in mentorship.
"The only limitation on your life should be the voice of God" is one of the best quotes I've read (Ajulu put that up if it's not hazy in my head) and I can't help but add - "the voice of God directly or through Men"...
the second most important resource gifted us by the higher power (since some of yuna no wan hear God).
Robert Kiyosaki & his Rich Dad are the best reference of the importance of mentorship in Business and Life. Go read that amazing book sometime.
Focus : FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS yet another universal principle for success.
My biggest takeaway from the HBO documentary on perhaps the greatest investor in our day Warren Buffet.
Bill Gates his good friend was asked what attracted him to Warren or was it when Warren himself was asked? (A bit hazy too) two great financial giants of our day said the same thing, FOCUS. And that do mentors help you do or be.
I started my Brand and Design Agency like some of you know and there were so many things I wanted to do at the same time, a website, this & that and just a couple of days ago Ajulu put up a post on Avoiding Good Distractions (Please read his Substack it's there) and it realigned me with what mattered the most at the time and channeling all my energy there.
Focus & Mentors? same mama born them. Are you confused about how to start out in Business or Design? Or where and how to begin?
Tired of circles and want to transit into the next stage of your business,career and spirituality? SEEK MENTORS! you'd probably hate it at first, it'd feel humbling, but you'd come out with so much clarity and save yourself constant confusion and persistent roadblocks.
Destroying & Shattering Comfort Zones: Na dia work be dat.
Besides helping you gain clarity on what you want to do, they help you be better by helping you destroy the things holding you back and exploring deeper into the things that will propel you.
Pushing you into unfamiliar territories. Starting this blog finds it's root in my relationship with Ajulu. I mean I didn't think I sucked at writing or anything, but I never saw the need. It seemed like a bore, but boy do I enjoy it now, I just needed that extra special PUSH.
Ask me about blogging just 3 weeks ago and I'd scorn. See, I could keep going. But this whole piece is getting rather too long so I'd stop at three.
As a Designer, mentors would break the shackles of fear, laziness and uncertainty that holds back a lot of us. Like me, Ajulu started off graphic designing, and later went on to UI/UX (some of that soon) and proceeded to do a 100 day challenge. Designing everyday for 100 days. Exampelary living right there. I heard about it and was so inspired. This blog in itself is a product of MENTORSHIP.
I'm strategically avoiding a sequel so badly.
HOW TO FIND A MENTOR?
Desire, Burning, Overwhelming Desire For Change : Napoleon Hill talked about the power of the universal forces responding to strong desire and bringing at your disposal resources to bring to reality that deep desire and desperation. As a believer he was simply talking about FAITH. Realize where and who you want to become, come to terms with your inadequacies and inability to get there yourself, and earnestly seek counsel, help and change. This singular defining moment or decision will shield you on days where the idea of submission or humility nauseates you and you're tempted to go back to being young, wild and free.
Submit On Finding The Right Person: This is pretty self explanatory. Once you recognize someone with a track record and all the attributes and virtues you DESIRE to see in yourself, SUBMIT to them. By direct followership or by keen observation and implementation from afar.
Retaining that initial desire to stay till you see yourself lose your old feathers are transformed and soar like an eagle in your category or sphere of choice.
GO AND KICK-START THAT JOURNEY TO GREATNESS IF SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR COMES TO MIND.
You can Zealously pursue your desired outcome in whatever sphere you're passionate about or need help the most ALONE.
But you will be zealously and sincerely wrong a lot of times and make mistakes that leave most broken for life or with Scars. Save yourself time and unnecessary wounds. SEEK A MENTOR (VOL. 2).
YOU WILL COME OUT BETTER FOR IT!
If you want the opportunity to view Ajulus very free and super valuable WhatsApp wisdom nuggets on his status hit me up.
He's an amazing place to start.
It's Ajulus Birthday, be a decent person if you got to the end and say 'Happy Birthday Ajulu' in the comments please.
Thank you.
Love, Mezie.
Happy birthday Ajulu...great piece