Thoughts on mentoring. A THREAD. Had the pleasure of hearing my queen @ava speak today. She put into words something I've been trying to articulate. Often strangers ask me to mentor them. I don't think they realize what an ask that is. Ava put it so beautifully.

It's a very intimate request. Like asking someone to be a lover. You don't just ask that of someone. You are assuming they will share their time, their heart, their soul with you when they don't know you. I had no mentor for years! Yet it seems people these days expect one.

It doesn't work that way. The people I mentor were people I approached. People who did the work and showed the hustle that caught my attention. I could see we were about the same thing. And I went to them. Do not wait for a mentor to show you the way. Research yourself.

Build community yourself. On these threads there are so many likeminded people who know your journey and you can guide one another. Then when you put in the time, the work, the hustle...people will notice. And the people that notice, who care, will try to help if they can.

But it shouldn't be an expectation. Remember we have full time jobs. Lives. Friends. Families. No one owes you anything. And if someone does offer time, help, support BE GRATEFUL. Someones time is a HUGE gift.