Mentor Quotes to Inspire

Having a mentor can really help propel your entrepreneurial journey. Jumpstart your day with these mentor quotes.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Plutarch
“The mediocre leader tells. The good leader explains. The superior leader demonstrates. The great leader inspires.” Gary Patton
“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” Denzel Washington
“One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.” John C. Maxwell
“The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.” Plutarch
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” Steven Spielberg
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” John Crosby
“What I think the mentor gets is the great satisfaction of helping somebody along, helping somebody take advantage of an opportunity that maybe he or she did not have.” Clint Eastwood
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill
“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.” J Loren Norris
“You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself.” Galileo Galilei
“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” Bob Proctor

Quick Mentorship Notes

Mentorship is an invaluable component to any aspiring entrepreneur. It provides direction in the midst of overwhelming decisions, encouragement when the road gets bumpy, and specific insights into your field of interest.

What to Look for in a Mentor:

Someone who has been in your shoes—hearing the trials of triumphs of your mentor will give you perspective. Plus, you can get advice specific to the outcome you’re aiming to achieve.
Someone who challenges you— a truly helpful mentor will push you to improve, introduce you to new ideas, and provide you with hands-on learning opportunities along the way.
Someone who is willing to invest time in you—a mentor should be accessible and engaging during your time together. Just keep in mind that a quality mentor is likely very busy… you may have to put in a substantial amount of legwork to get your relationship off the ground!

How to Connect with a Mentor:

Get involved—volunteer or work in a medical program to strengthen your network and rub shoulders with accomplished professionals.
Use your connections—if you don’t find any prospects through friends or family, look into your school’s alumni network, local medical societies, or hospitals that have mentoring programs.
Step out on a limb—if there’s superstar surgeon you admire from a distance, take action! Introduce yourself through email, or even better yet, in person if you have the chance.

It may take some trial and error to find a good fit, so don’t let a few “no’s” defeat you!

More Mentorship Information: