| Have you ever heard the expression “He’s a | | | | because the mentor will have an impact through a |
| natural born leader?” This is one of those phrases | | | | direct personal relationship. The mentor and the person |
| that in reality is more ?ction than fact. Leadership | | | | not only interact together but the mentor often takes a |
| qualities are developed “after birth” through the | | | | personal interest in the success of their |
| decisions we make and the decisions that are made | | | | “student”. The mentor is an important part of the |
| for us in childhood. These decisions in? uence which | | | | person’s life. |
| people we choose to follow, which ultimately shapes | | | | A mentor can “take you under their wing” or |
| our leadership abilities. Therefore, in order to become a | | | | you may seek them out based on a particular area of |
| great leader, you must ?rst learn how to become a | | | | expertise they possess. If you are fortunate enough to |
| good follower. | | | | have one or more mentors in your life, these will be |
| To become a good follower you must carefully select | | | | the key people who will shape your leadership qualities, |
| your role models and mentors. No one can choose | | | | so choose them wisely. |
| these people for you. These people will be the leaders | | | | The best way to choose a role model/ mentor is to |
| who will shape your character and ultimately teach | | | | examine your goals and seek out the people who |
| you how to be a great leader yourself. | | | | have accomplished similar objectives. Once you ?nd |
| Role models and mentors are not the same. A role | | | | some- one that you would like to follow, ask yourself |
| model can be anyone who influences another person | | | | how this person accomplished their objective. If they |
| to act or be- have in ways similar to themselves. | | | | were successful in an honest and reputable way, then |
| They can be someone you know or someone you | | | | they will most likely be an excellent role model or |
| have never met. The similar characteristic between | | | | mentor in your life. For example, if your goal is to be a |
| role models is that they are looked up to by the people | | | | great weight-lifter, a good role model would be a |
| who follow them. This is why many children choose | | | | person who was dedicated to being successful |
| sports heroes as role models. They would love to be | | | | through hard work and without the use of steroids. |
| like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or John Elway. I | | | | As martial arts instructors, we strive to become |
| wonder how many children do the “Sammy Sosa | | | | positive role models for all our students. We have the |
| jump” after they hit a baseball, or stick their tongue | | | | unique opportunity to work with many people with |
| out when attempting to slam dunk a basketball like | | | | varying goals. While we don’t expect you to |
| Michael Jordan? | | | | choose our life’s path and open a martial arts |
| But sports heroes are not the only type of role model | | | | school, we do expect your martial arts training to be |
| that can impact a person’s life. Peers, teachers, | | | | an important tool in helping you achieve success in |
| and parents have an opportunity to make the | | | | whatever you do. |
| strongest impact on us. And because a role | | | | If you have been a good follower and have chosen |
| model’s in?uence can be either good or bad, who | | | | your leaders properly, you will have learned to lead |
| we choose to emulate will ultimately determine the | | | | others. Just as it comes time for children to leave |
| person we become. Children are the most | | | | home and enter the world as individuals, there also |
| impressionable because they are looking to de?ne | | | | comes a time for followers to become leaders. As |
| themselves. They are at the time in their lives when | | | | children can always come home for support, great |
| selecting a positive role model is crucial. However, in a | | | | leaders understand that continuing to have role models |
| recent survey that asked children if they had a role | | | | and leaders as a reference will foster continued |
| model, 43% said they did not. | | | | personal growth. At our school, it is our mission to |
| A mentor is a type of role model. The relationship | | | | develop great leaders. Our tool is martial arts. |
| between a person and a mentor is much more special | | | | |