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Coach George Raveling is a retired Villanova basketball player and Pac-10 Head Coach, and the author of the book What You’re Made For.
From 1972 to 1994, he was known as Coach Rav, mentoring hundreds of young men, and upon retirement, George joined Nike’s basketball marketing department. One of his Mentees, basketball legend Michael Jordan, wrote the Foreword to George’s book, opening with, “George Raveling is an unsung hero in my life. He’s been a Mentor and a friend to me since our paths first crossed.” In fact, Michael credits George for his partnership with Nike and the Air Jordan. When he turned 83, George was invited to a mastermind dinner. Believing that wisdom demands a pursuit, George accepted the invitation, curious to explore and reflect in a new community. Made famous by Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich, the mastermind concept is an orchestrated gathering of peers committed to exchanging ideas, resources, and connections. It’s a unique format for sparking multiple mentoring conversations. As George describes the experience, the sheer volume of information offered by the “melting pot of minds” was exhilarating! The broad cross-section of participants introduced George to new ways of thinking and being. For someone who spent decades revered as a Mentor, this was a formidable experience. At 83, George was thrust back into a Mentee role, discovering timeless life lessons from young tech wizards to veteran CEOs, from a best-selling author to a neuroscientist, from twentysomethings to octogenarians. It reinforced for George the importance of seeking out people whose journeys pressure-test our thinking and check our blind spots. It affirmed the treasure trove that awaits us when we intentionally enter environments teeming with diversity of thought. “If everyone thinks just like you, it can get really boring really fast.” “This is what growth looks like. It’s not about surrounding yourself with people who think exactly like you do. It’s about seeking out those who can challenge your assumptions, expand your horizons, and push you to think in new ways. It’s about putting yourself in situations where you can discover wisdom you never knew existed.” Periodically, in one of our mentoring programs, a mentee will question their match, “How can I learn from her? She’s never had my job!” In the future, I’m going to reference George’s conclusion following his mastermind adventure, “If you and I agree on everything, one of us is unnecessary.” © 2025. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |