Goals, Gaps, and Gifts: Mentor / Mentee MatchupMagic
An ideal mentor/mentee matchup blends three key elements: Goals, Gaps, and Gifts.
GOALS: Mentor and mentee should have compatible goals and aspirations. For example, if your goal is to become a director, choose a mentor with experience as a director or other leadership role. If you aim to build confidence in delivering presentations, find a mentor who dazzles you when they are on the stage.
GAPS: A good mentor can fill in the gaps in the mentee’s knowledge and experience. For example, if you are new to the industry, choose a mentor who can teach you about the industry and help you develop skills.
GIFTS: Mentor and mentee should have complementary gifts and talents. For example, if you are a creative thinker, choose a mentor who is good at strategic planning and execution. Having complementary skills allows the mentee to see a different way of approaching novel situations.
Think about your own experience as a mentor or mentee. How did your goals, gaps, and gifts intersect?
Every day is a new chance to “ride the elevator” with someone who can change your life by opening a door to your next career opportunity. Are you ready for those few seconds? Do you have your personal brand defined? Can you deliver it in a single statement—-using 8 words or less?
If you yearn for that breakthrough moment that propels you toward your dreams, here is a simple act you can take: Imagine having a laser-focused personal branding message that not only captivates attention but compels action. Can you see yourself confidently sharing your passion, purpose, and value, leaving a lasting impact on anyone you meet? That’s the magic of a well-crafted Personal Brand Story.
To craft an effective personal brand story, follow these steps:
Discover and Reflect: Name your strengths, values, skills, passions, and key experiences. Consider what makes you unique and what you’re truly passionate about. Reflect on your accomplishments and the impact you want to have. Answer questions like:
What do I excel at? What are my strengths?
What are my core values and beliefs?
What am I most passionate about in my work or life?
What problems can I solve or needs can I fulfill?
How have my experiences shaped who I am today?
Define Your Value Proposition: Based on your self-reflection, identify the unique value you bring to the table. Consider how your strengths, skills, and passions align with the needs of your target audience. Your value proposition should succinctly answer questions like:
How can I contribute positively?
What benefits do I provide to others?
What sets me apart from others in my field?
Craft your Statement: Now, it’s time to put it all together into a concise, high-impact statement. Your personal brand statement should be clear, authentic, and memorable. Here’s a formula to guide you:
Adjective + Noun + Action + Impact: Use an adjective to describe yourself, followed by a noun that represents your expertise or field. Then, add an action verb that highlights what you do, and finally, convey the impact or benefit you create.
Here are some examples:
Dynamic Marketing Strategist igniting brands for explosive growth
Expert Storytelling Coach unlocking confidence through onstage magic
Innovative Training Leader driving a high-impact learning culture
Creative Graphic Designer visualizing your best branding
Edit and Refine: Write down multiple versions of your personal brand statement and refine them. Keep it concise, ideally in one sentence. Even better if you can get it to just a phrase or three words. Test it out on friends, mentors, or colleagues to gather feedback. Here’s mine:
Light Shiner: Building leaders by illuminating strengths
Align with Authenticity: Your personal brand statement should authentically represent you and what you stand for. Make sure it resonates with who you are and how you want to be perceived.
Adapt for Different Contexts: Tailor your personal brand statement for different situations. You might have a slightly different version for your LinkedIn profile, resume, elevator pitch, or networking events.
Regularly Review and Update: As you grow and evolve, your personal brand statement may need adjustments. Regularly revisit and update it to ensure it remains aligned with your journey and aspirations.
Remember, your personal brand statement is a dynamic representation of your identity, strengths, and aspirations. It should communicate your unique value and leave a lasting impression on those who encounter it.
This year I wanted to try something new to honor Memorial Day. Let’s learn together about the history and traditions associated with Memorial Day, a federal holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. It is a day to remember and honor the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Memorial Day originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in that conflict. Over time, Memorial Day has expanded to honor all American military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.
Produced in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless the USA.
Perception can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. The classic leadership book, The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, shaped my leadership approach. They teach the power of Perception. Consider the story of The Monk and the Travellers:
THE MONK AND THE TRAVELLERS
One day a traveller was walking along a road on his journey from one village to another. As he walked he noticed a monk tending the ground in the fields beside the road. The monk said “Good day” to the traveller, and the traveller nodded to the monk. The traveller then turned to the monk and said “Excuse me, do you mind if I ask you a question?”.
“Not at all,” replied the monk.
“I am travelling from the village in the mountains to the village in the valley and I was wondering if you knew what it is like in the village in the valley?”
“Tell me,” said the monk, “What was your experience of the village in the mountains?”
“Dreadful,” replied the traveller, “to be honest I am glad to be away from there. I found the people most unwelcoming. When I first arrived I was greeted coldly. I was never made to feel part of the village no matter how hard I tried. The villagers keep very much to themselves, they don’t take kindly to strangers. So tell me, what can I expect in the village in the valley?”
“I am sorry to tell you,” said the monk, “but I think your experience will be much the same there”.
The traveller hung his head despondently and walked on.
A while later another traveller was journeying down the same road and he also came upon the monk.
“I’m going to the village in the valley,” said the second traveller, “Do you know what it is like?”
“I do,” replied the monk “But first tell me – where have you come from?”
“I’ve come from the village in the mountains.”
“And how was that?”
“It was a wonderful experience. I would have stayed if I could but I am committed to travelling on. I felt as though I was a member of the family in the village. The elders gave me much advice, the children laughed and joked with me and people were generally kind and generous. I am sad to have left there. It will always hold special memories for me. And what of the village in the valley?” he asked again.
“I think you will find it much the same” replied the monk, “Good day to you”.
“Good day and thank you,” the traveller replied, smiled, and journeyed on.
___________________
THE POWER OF PERCEPTION
Tell me how this story impacts you? Does your own perception of situations evolve based on the attitude you bring? Sure makes a difference for me. Choose wisely.
“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” — General Colin Powell
At the end of each workday when I walk out of the office building, I hear the same words while heading toward the door, “All right, Susan, you have a great night!”
Christie, our company’s steward of the campus front entrance, is always ready with a smile and a kind wish to cap off the day.
Christie Melchiore, April 2023
I treasure this tiny ritual. And I know I’m not alone. Christie freely shares her genuine joy with all who pass her way.
Her daily message reminds me that everything is, indeed, “All right.”
For me, Christie has come to represent the hope and possibility of renewal. No matter how the day went upstairs, you can count on a kind smile when you walk out the door. She’s a bright light. And her light helps me cascade a light forward onto the path of those I encounter.
Are all of Christie’s days easy? I’m sure they aren’t. Are all of her moments bright? Can’t possibly be. But still she chooses to shine that light. As a wise colleague once said, “Choice is a superpower.” I am lucky to be in the path of this every-day superhero.
I’m sharing this moment with you, because I wonder if there is someone in your life whose simple acts of kindness makes a difference? Let’s call it out.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts, or even an example of someone whose optimism is a force multiplier for you.
Susan E. Hendrich 