One of the reasons I try to incorporate PromoKitchen as a part of my everyday #promolife are the pillars it was created upon - education and mentorship.  Partnering seasoned mentors with new (or lightly seasoned) promotional professionals, the PromoKitchen Mentorship Program is an amazing avenue that leads people to achievable success in our industry.  It’s an opportunity I encourage others to explore, both on the mentor and mentee side.

I was recently chatting about mentorship and education within the promo industry with a colleague and naturally that conversation led to talk about PromoKitchen. The conversation had us asking the question… What does mentorship mean?  How do you define being a mentor?  Obviously, that meaning can vary depending on who you ask.  If you ask Merriam-Webster©, it’s a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor or coach.

This conversation also had me hitting pause and really thinking about who has filled the mentor role for me – both inside and outside of promo.  All I needed to do was look around me.  I am surrounded by mentors, and even without assigning a formal title to them they are there.  By simple walking outside my office I am exposed to amazing promotional products pros – some with decades of experience to share, and others new to the scene.  Each and every one of these people brings value and learning opportunities to the table.  It’s just a matter of acknowledging that value, absorbing what applies right now, and filing away what could apply later. 

When I step out of the office, the same principles apply.  I gain knowledge, strength, insight and more from my family and friends.  Even a chance encounter with a stranger can help guide future steps in life.  From sage advice from a parent or elder to a unique perspective delivered from the next generation, there is no lesson too small to impact future progress, goals, or success.

Of course, me noticing this also brings to light the wisdom that my presence is impacting those around me. That’s a scary thought sometimes, I know - but this recent conversation has me not only embracing those everyday mentors around me, but also trying to remain vigilant on how I interact with those in my orbit.  It’s caused an internal stop-and-think, forcing me to make the most of every interaction (both professionally and beyond).

This conversation also made me realize that we can’t (and very rarely) achieve success on our own.  It’s up to us to decide what to absorb and what to deflect. It’s up to us to decide how much impact we let others have on us, as well as how we choose to impact others. The PK Mentorship program is the perfect place to look when you start to get intentional about finding a mentor or offering your wisdom to others as a mentor.  My mentors have instilled invaluable insight, and just as important, as a mentor I have learned so much from my mentees.

All of this being said, I leave you with these questions…  When is the last time you took stock of the every day mentors around you?  Have you fully embraced what the people around you have to share? Who are you mentoring without knowing it? And finally, do you feel driven to share all of that wonder promo knowledge with someone who could use some extra insight?  If so, we’d love to have you as a mentee or mentor.  When you’re ready, check out the PK Mentorship Program. We’ll be waiting for you!

 About the author: Molly Neises, MAS