When most people think of the mentor-mentee relationship, they envision an older, wizened sage gently leading a young, naïve protégé along in a mutual pursuit of the path to success. Scratch that. Forget everything you know about mentorship. Just because someone has lived longer, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have more to offer a mentee. Along with that same train of thought, being older doesn’t mean that you’re too old for a mentor yourself.
Long story short, there’s absolutely no age requirement to be a mentor.
Are You Too Old for a Mentor?
This is a question that only you yourself can truly answer. No one else can answer this question for you, not even the people closest to you. Seeking out mentorship takes courage and it takes a recognition that your life isn’t where you want it to be.
There’s no age cut-off for changing your life around. You may feel as though you’ve already stumbled too far down one path to even entertain the idea of wandering down another. With the help of a mentor by your side, you don’t have to wander alone. And better yet, the two of you can forge a path all your own. You can cut through the thick brush of life and pave the way to success, no matter when or where you start. That’s the beauty of mentorship.
Are You Too Young to be a Mentor?
Just as people give sidelong glances to older people who seek out mentorship later in life, there are those that cast judgment on mentors who seem too young to give anyone advice. “Who is this kid? And what right does he think he has to tell me how to live my life?” You might catch yourself thinking. Or perhaps you’re the precocious youngster.
In any case, it’s a myth that you have to be a certain age to be able to dispense useful advice. In fact, some kids have ‘life’ better figured out than many people who’ve reached retirement age. The common adage, “It’s not about the years in your life; it’s about the life in your years,” holds true in this instance.
You don’t have to wizened to be wise.
