Mentors, Moments, & Multiplication

If time, talent, and treasure are the roots, then mentors are often the gardeners, tending, pruning, and reminding us we’re capable of more than we think. Mentorship doesn’t always arrive in a program or a formal title. More often, it shows up in ordinary moments that multiply over time.

I’ve noticed in my consulting work that careers rarely turn on massive events. Instead, it’s the timely conversation, the unexpected encouragement, or the nudge in a hard season that shifts a Member’s trajectory. A single lunch, a passing comment, a short story from someone further down the road, these moments echo longer than we realize.

Faith gives us the same picture. Moses had Jethro. Paul had Barnabas. Timothy had Paul. Jesus Himself poured into twelve men who would multiply His message long after He ascended. Mentorship has always been about multiplication, not addition.

Culture reminds us too. In The Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi wasn’t teaching Daniel to wax cars or paint fences. He was building patience, discipline, and resilience. Those ordinary actions became extraordinary preparation. What looked like chores turned into championship.

In my own life, mentors have often taught me more through presence than instruction. A leader who took my call when they didn’t have to. A boss who pulled me aside with a word of affirmation. A friend who reminded me to keep perspective when I was ready to give up. Those weren’t scripted moments, but they multiplied impact in ways I’m still carrying forward.

Mentorship doesn’t require a podium. It requires presence. And when presence multiplies, legacy follows. Here’s the irony: most mentors don’t realize they’re mentoring at all. They think they’re just sharing advice or telling a story. Yet the person on the other side walks away with a shifted vision for what’s possible. Multiplication hides in moments.

Mentorship also keeps us humble. It reminds us we didn’t get here on our own. For every milestone in my career, there’s someone in the background who opened a door, shared wisdom, or modeled what faithfulness and authenticity looked like. My story is multiplied by theirs.

And now, the responsibility rests on me. Who am I mentoring, intentionally or not? Who’s watching how I navigate challenges, handle stress, or balance calling and career? Some of my most important followers aren’t colleagues at all, they’re my kids. They’re watching how I listen, how I love, and what I celebrate. That’s mentorship too, and it may be the most lasting multiplication of all.

Here’s what I’ve learned: mentors shape us most through ordinary moments, and those moments multiply far beyond what we see at the time.

Try This (In This Fall Season)

1. Work: Write one hand-written thank-you note to a mentor who shaped you.

2. Home: Share one “story that stuck” from your career with your kids, spouse, or a loved one.

3. Mentorship: Set up one intentional conversation with someone younger in the profession.

4. Leadership: Ask someone on your team: “What’s one thing you’d like to learn from me this year?”

5. Personal audit: List three names: the mentor above you, the peer beside you, and the younger pro below you. Ask yourself: are you investing in each?

My Commitment

This fall, I’m reaching back out to one of the mentors who quietly shaped me years ago. I want them to know their words still influence my work today. And I’m committing to carve out intentional space with a younger Member, not just to give answers, but to be present in their questions. At the same time, I’m mindful that my kids are learning from me daily. I want them to see faith, humility, and joy multiplied in the way I live.

And you? May this season remind you that mentorship multiplies through small, faithful moments. Look for them. Step into them. You never know who might be carrying them forward.

Next time, we’ll explore passion, purpose, and pursuit, how what lights us up can also lead us forward.