Available or Approachable?

I'M AVAILABLE ANY TIME.  MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.

How many of you have said that or have heard a coach say that?  Everyone, raise your hand.  I actually don't have a door in my office, so this happens to be true for me every day!  However, I remember in college having coaches and professors tell me that their door was "always open," yet no one was ever in their office.  I also remember that there were some coaches and professors that ALWAYS had people in their office.  Both made themselves available, but why did only one of them have people in there?

YOU MAY BE AVAILABLE, BUT ARE YOU APPROACHABLE?

To be available is one thing, but to be approachable is entirely different.  If you want to have a genuine impact on others you must be authentic in building a relationship with them.  Listen to them.  Learn from them.  Grow with them.  Love them.  Once people sense that you care for them they will begin to allow you to mentor them.  Your approachability will determine the significance of your availability.  Don't just make yourself available, make yourself approachable!

Why Mentors Are Important

I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life.  They challenge.  They build.  They love.  Without mentors to help me grow throughout my journey, I wouldn't be the person I am today.  They came into my life and called me out when I was wrong and they continue to give me the wisdom to continue my development as a husband, father, and coach.  

GROWING PAINS

My closest mentors have been with me during some of the hardest times of my life.  They have seen me fail and they have seen me at my worst.  During these moments they cared enough to challenge me and allow me to see my potential.  I was challenged to change my mindset.  I was challenged to change my habits.  I was challenged to do things that were hard, and frankly, I didn't want to do.  But because of their willingness to challenge me, I was able to get out of my comfort zone and begin to tap into my true calling.  I am forever grateful for my mentors challenging me to grow.

CONFIDENCE BUILDERS

As I began to pursue my calling and chase my dreams, there were (and still are) so many roadblocks and potholes along the way.  Naturally, I struggled with confidence and wasn't always certain if I was making the right moves.  My mentors came alongside me and gave me encouragement through all of these twists and turns.  A simple text or a quick hug was always enough to give me confidence and assurance that what I was doing was going to work out.  Their experience allowed me to gain a new perspective which sent my confidence to another level.  To this day my mentors continue to give me the confidence that what I am doing is making an impact in other's lives.  

ALL THE REST

As much guidance that my mentors have given me, I am most grateful for the wisdom they drop on me when it comes to the rest of life.  My role as a husband.  My role as a father.  My role as a coach.  My role as an employee.  My role as a mentor.  In all these areas I have people I can go to to seek out insight.  There are no words to describe how much I value having mentors in my life.  They all bring different perspectives and they all have unique ways of communicating to me.  But regardless of how they think or what they say, I know that they love me.  They have my best interest in mind and I can trust what they say.  I don't always like it, but I always need to hear it.  I can't be my best without the feedback and advice of these people.

GRATEFUL

To the people who have been and continue to be mentors to me, thank you.  You are appreciated more than you'll ever know and I'm thankful for your willingness to play a big time role in my life.  

If you have people pouring into your life I'm sure you agree with a lot of what I've said.  I hope that you tell those people how important they are to you and how thankful you are for them.  I would appreciate it if you shared this with them and would love to hear different ways that you have been impacted by a mentor!