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When Matt Damon and Ben Affleck shopped their screenplay Good Will Hunting, they proposed to act in the lead roles, but studio executives hesitated – Matt and Ben were relatively unknown actors.
Undeterred, they sent their script to Robin Williams, knowing he would lend credibility and talent to their film. Robin loved it but asked his friends, “Who are these guys?” Someone mentioned that Francis Ford Coppola was working with Matt, so Robin called his friend Francis. At the time, Francis was directing Matt in the movie The Rainmaker, and based on that experience, he vouched for Matt, “He’s a great young actor. You should work with him.” Relying on Francis’ endorsement, Robin joined the film, which then encouraged the studio executives to proceed with Matt and Ben in the lead roles. After its release, Robin won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and Matt was nominated for Best Actor. And it started when Francis sponsored Matt. Sponsorship seems enormously influential and impactful! So, why don’t we skip mentoring and focus on sponsoring?
Francis managed and mentored: he knew Matt’s work, understood his aspirations, and experienced his integrity. Francis felt confident endorsing Matt. Mentoring: sharing advice, perspectives, ideas, resources, encouragement, hope, and validation. Understandably, mentoring can feel mundane compared to the sultriness of sponsoring.
But to expect someone to sponsor you without first having a mentoring relationship is irresponsible and disrespectful. Do you have to wait for your mentor to sponsor you? No! Assuming you already have a trusting relationship, you could ask your mentor to recommend you for an opportunity you’ve identified. Mentors want to make a difference, and with your sponsorship request, they can amplify their impact. Sponsoring is how mentors become super mentors! © 2023. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |