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Wax on, wax off

Matt Murray, CEO/Founder

As a guy who grew up with a stay at home mom and a military dad, the only people I knew were GI's, pastors, and teachers. The salt of the earth that drive this great nation to be sure. From a business perspective each one of these folks had a script, written by someone else to follow, but as entrepreneurs and creatives, we create the script.

My journey to found theaayp.org was slightly slowed by the lack of mentoring in my young business life. There was no Mr. Miyagi, no eastern mystic, and no rich uncle to take my hand and point the way. My path was fought tooth and nail. It was bloody, fraught with mistake after mistake. But my successes were sweetened by the battle to win.

It's not that it should be easier. Not at all. It's that each effort should have rippled farther. Had a bigger bang, a longer reach. More leverage.

I mentor my staff, my family, and my friends everyday. Sure, I'm a wind bag. Always quoting, always referencing. But the fact is these folks get to see it live. Matt did this, got that; said this, lost that.

And in the end nothing is more rewarding than the student surpassing the teacher.

Thanks INC for being one of my Mr. Miyagis.

Here are some thoughts for mentors and mentees:

Daniel-sons:

  1. Aim high - Don't just go 2 levels up, start at the top and then work down. Maybe the CEO is too busy, but somewhere down the line you should be able to find someone who is impressed by your desire to better yourself. And to make that easier:
  2. Offer lunch. The days of free food attracting people to a function extend beyond college. Or, if you have a club membership somewhere, a round of 18 holes or a game of squash can do wonders.
  3. Find contacts in your field - You want folks for wisdom AND introductions.
  4. Network - Join organizations such as your university alumni (or even better, young alumni) network. The Jaycees and/or other civic organizations are also a good place to look.

Mr. Miyagis:

  1. Mentor brains - You don't want to see your time flushed away. Spend it on A players. B players want to be B players.
  2. Get involved - You'd be amazed who that 21 year old kid knows or is about to find out (just think 'Google').
  3. Give feedback - Make a verbal agreement. Some of this won't be delicate. You need to learn your drinking and word choice embarrasses only you...ok and me.
  4. Steer them - Don't just give advice, show them. Take them on the shop floor and show them what happens to arms that don't follow safety guidelines.