During this year’s commencement address at Northern Arizona University, Bill Gates offered a lifetime of wisdom in five nuggets:
1. Your life isn’t a one-act play. 2. You’re never too smart to be confused. 3. Gravitate toward work that solves a problem. 4. Don’t underestimate the power of friendship. 5. You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack. But peppered into this sage advice, Gates shared a reverence for mentoring. He suggested that we learn best from others who are a little further along than us – mentors! Gates expounded, “Find smart people to learn from. It could be:
Gates revealed that almost everything he accomplished happened because he sought out others who knew more than he did – mentors! “People want to help you. The key is not to be afraid to ask. Your fellow graduates are your network – your best sources of support, information, and advice.” And he’s right! According to research by Stanford University social psychologist Xuan Zhao, people feel good – even happy – when they can help others. And then Gates concluded his remarks with, “The only thing more valuable than what you walk offstage with today is who you walk onstage with.” And if graduation is a distant memory, consider… the only thing more valuable than what you stand up is whose shoulders you stand on in the process. © 2023. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |