Are You A Mentee?

You do not have to be a sports fan or from Tennessee to have heard of Pat Summitt, thirty-eight year head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. My pastor, Tom McCoy, mentioned Pat’s retirement and some facts about her journey from a rural Tennessee farm to the winningest Division 1 Basketball Coach of all time, men or women.

In 1974, Pat was paid $250.00 per month, washed the uniforms and drove the team van beginning a thirty-eight season winning streak with a record of 1098 wins and 208 losses. She has won eight NCAA Championships, surpassed only by the ten titles won by UCLA coach, John Wooden.

Who could possibly qualify or desire to follow this kind of legacy? Holly Warlick.

“This is what I do,” said Warlick. “I’m a basketball coach, and I’ve been it all my life. I’ve learned from the best, so I don’t see it as I’m following a legend. I’m following a mentor who’s prepared me for this opportunity and it happens to be at the University of Tennessee. Very honored, privileged, and I’m ready to go to work.”

A mentee is defined as a person who is being guided by a mentor. After playing for Summitt as a walk on in 1976 and becoming a three-time All American, Warlick returned to coach under Pat for the past twenty-seven years. I believe Holly is prepared.

This mentor/mentee relationship is very personal to me since I found myself on my own after my parents divorce prior to my sixteenth birthday. Fortunately, God placed a long line of people in my path to guide me and I feel blessed to have had the eyes to recognize them.

My good friend Deb Ingino wrote in a recent blog that to be an effective leader, you must create your own “dream team.” Every leader must be smart enough to know that they cannot do it alone. Deb says your team should consist of four types of people, Teachers, Encouragers, Allies and Mentee’s.

Leadership is influence. Leaders who mentor potential leaders multiply their effectiveness. There is no success without a successor.” ~ John Maxwell

Are you a mentee? If not, you should be. If you are, then pass it on. The mentors in my life have made all the difference.

Have a great week!

Pierce

You can learn more about leadership from Deb Ingino by going to StrengthLeaderMentor.com.