I’m Glad to be Back!

I’ve always considered myself lucky being surrounded by great teachers. But I owe it all to my mentor who has taught me so much over the years and yet never interferes with the events in my life that were necessary for me to go through to grow. I’ve heard of people blaming their mentors for allowing them to make mistakes when it could have been avoided. But honestly, who is to say that you won’t make mistakes if your mentor were to advise you against taking certain actions? I went against my mentor’s advice many times before and I got myself into difficult situations but I gotta say, I’m glad that it happened or else I wouldn’t be as strong as I am today.

Previously I wrote a blog post titled The Best Moments in Corporate Asia, highlighting some of the key moments in my first job and in fact in my career. Those were the memories I hold close to my heart. That was my first job and my boss/ mentor let me handled projects and organized events as if I was the owner of the company. There were so many responsibilities and ownership involved. But the lessons and experiences gained were tremendously powerful that I never had to apply for any jobs since I left Corporate Asia. I’ve always being headhunted since then and I had to turn down some job offers. I apologize if I appear to be bragging here but seriously, credits to my mentor. He did a great job!

Just recently, I got back in touch with my mentor, and yesterday I followed him to a workshop he was conducting for a client. (Oh, he’s a corporate trainer and coach by the way and one of the best I’ve seen.) The sense of familiarity was almost instant. During the workshop, he involved me just like he always did. It really fires up my passion to be a trainer again. Since I lost in touch with him, I actually have forgotten that I wanted to become a trainer because I was never given an opportunity to develop myself in that area for so long I just decided I’m more comfortable behind the scene.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I really enjoy how my mentor doesn’t just tell me, he shows me how and he involves me in the doing as well. I’m sure you all heard of the phrase “the learning is in the doing.” I really miss those days when I was learning practically every day when I was working with him and I want those great learning moments back. I desperately want to grow even more, personally and professionally and my mentor is the one person who can make that happen…oh wait, he never likes me saying that. He would want to hear me say, “I’m the only person who can make that happen.”

Until today, I never forget that very first moment he made me feel like a champion. I was in the exam hall, fully concentrated on answering my exam questions when he came by my desk and said, “Do you know what’s the best thing about you?” I lost track of my thoughts and looked at him, puzzled. He smiled and said, “You!” Then he walked away. At that point in time, I was dumbfounded…well, not as if I could talk anyway since I was having an exam but I never forget that.

So, what I’m saying now to my mentor and a good friend of mine who has always supported me like a big sis: “Mehan, Cathy, I’m glad to be back and you know what? It’s like I never left.”