Introduction to Mentoring

Some of the earliest examples of human mentoring can be found on cave walls. Prehistoric man used mentoring as a way to teach parenting, migration, reproduction, tool making, fighting, and hunting. Humans also used mentoring to help teach younger generations which berries were poisonous, which plants had medicinal purposes, and which water was healthy to drink. Mentoring was used to teach child rearing, farming, hunting, combat, agriculture, pottery, weaving, cooking, and carpentry. As mentoring became more sophisticated, civilizations evolved. Civilizations demanded the institutionalization of mentoring. Schools, religions, businesses, and governments were created to formalize the mentoring relationship. Language, laws, books, and leaders helped transfer information from one generation to the next. King, president, emperor, sensei, boss, coach, reverend, and teacher are some of the names and titles that were created. Codes, canons, and curriculum helped mentors deliver a consistent message. Knowledge and information was documented. Mentor Leaders and mentee's could refer to a script or a book to find information. The integrity and accuracy of the information also improved as the documentation process improved. Mentoring became the foundation on which nations were built. Without the effective transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next, important ideals, values, traditions, history, and culture would be lost forever. Civilization requires that each generation learns from the previous generation. They must be taught the skills and knowledge that they will need to advance. The transfer of knowledge must be effective, accurate, and complete. This book is a collection of core values and guiding principles that every effective mentor possesses, models and teaches. These values and principles are the foundation upon which civilizations are built. Over the past several years, I was fortunate enough to have strong positive men in my life. Their presence was constant and consistent. At every turn and every big decision, they were with me or their teachings helped guide me. I cannot think of one major choice or event in my life that was not somehow influenced by the love and support I received by my fathers and my mentors. Unfortunately, there are thousands of youth and adults who never had the opportunity to learn from a man who was wise, caring and loving. This sparked the idea for the book. I wanted to provide youth with a collection of values and principles that could give them some guidance and direction on what it means to be a responsible adult. I also wanted to write a book that mentors could use as tool to engage their prot g . It can also be used as a tool for parents, coaches, teachers and other adults who seek to re direct a young person who may be misguided or misinformed. This book will help young people understand what it means to be an honorable person. It serves as a measuring rod for those who are unsure or confused about their decisions or lifestyle.