Is a mentor different from an advisor? Yes, they are different. An advisor provides a service that is often transactional and less relational. A mentor, on the other hand, is a long-term relationship where you're invested in the other person's progress, often with no expectation of personal gain. The relationship piece is the key differentiator.

Why do so many people think they can't be a mentor? Many people feel they're not qualified to mentor because they believe they have to know everything or have achieved a certain level of success. It's a mindset that sees mentorship as a big deal and a burden, requiring too much time and commitment. They don't realize that what is ordinary to them might be extraordinary to someone else.

What can I do to start mentoring someone right now? The first step is to start sharing your knowledge freely. Identify what you're good at, then find someone who could benefit from your experience, even if it's just a small area of life. Your negative experiences and failures are also valuable knowledge to share, so don't count yourself out.

Watch the full episode at https://youtu.be/jj3zcMTB224 and read more in THE ASCENT | 021