In November of 2022, many oceans away, there was magic in the air of India. The SPELLWizards Club members diligently created innovative stories that epitomized the lessons learned over the last year. SpellWizards club held its club international speech contest with 14 competitors. To put this into context, if the club had 28 members, that is 50% participation.
At the contest end, the contest chair counted down: “In 3rd place was Shivani Pagadoju, 2nd place was Debpriya Sarkar, and in 1st place was Saumya Gupta.” The spell was cast. What was this magical spell? The golden thread of the three finalists is the magic of mentorship.
YES, I had won “Drona of the Month” several times, but this was the grand slam of mentoring, with my proteges taking all the Top 3 places.
If you are a mentor or a protege, I want to leave you three salient lessons that left an indelible mark on my life and the lives of my proteges.
1. Magical Energy Source: Wizards may draw their magical energy from various sources, such as ley lines, magical crystals, or their own life force. The availability and type of magical energy can influence the power and nature of the spell. 80% of your success is your life force. It is founded on the clarity of who you are, what you believe, and what you want to be.
Mentor, you need to have an “abundance mentality,” care for and try to develop others, and be concerned about personal growth. You have to give and be willing to accept that your protege can surpass you, the teacher. Wizards need knowledge of magical spells and the skill to cast them correctly.
Protege must have a vivid imagination, ardent desire and enthusiastically act upon those desires. Knowledge alone will not make massive transformations. It will be performing on that knowledge, and it will do so.
2. POTIENTS & CHEMISTRY EXCHANGE: Spellcasting may require specific magical ingredients, herbs, or components. These ingredients can enhance the spell’s power or focus the wizard’s magical energy.
It would be best to recognize each other’s energy traits and, with mutual respect, pick each other. Look for desirable qualities in your partnership that attract you to each other.
Mentors amplify ideas, helping to generate more thoughts on a given topic. Mentors filter the best ideas in the frame of the protege goals.
Spells are infinite. The protege must know and communicate the specific spells he wishes to master. The mentor must act as both an amplifier of the numerous spells in that category and a filter to narrow down the exact spells that match his protege’s goals.
3 Study and Preparation: Wizards often spend years studying and preparing to become proficient in magic. This includes learning about magical theory, mastering different spells, and understanding the consequences of their actions.
Mentors and proteges must show up consistently and frequently over a sustained duration, with each contact making a small victory. They share trust and information before the presentation, support execution during it, and provide detailed feedback afterward.
Theory of Incantations and Gestures: Wizards often need to speak specific incantations or perform hand gestures to cast spells. The combination of words and movements helps to focus the wizard’s intent and energy. Starting with the heart’s desires, knowledge of the domain, and skill to get it done.
It is not practice that makes you perfect. Add one word: it is PERFECT practice that makes you perfect: to go to the top, you need a great mentor and iron will/determination. Practice daily, or you will get rusty.
Concentration at Spell Time: Many spells require concentration, and any distraction or loss of focus can disrupt the casting process. Wizards often need a calm and focused mind to cast spells successfully.
Magical Circles or Runes: Some spells may require the creation of magical circles or the drawing of specific runes. These symbols can serve as conduits for magical energy and provide a controlled environment for spellcasting.
Mentors must build a circle of trust, practicing support and criticism.
Do I have a teachable way of life? We met weekly, prepared beforehand, listened to their presentations, and gave additional vulnerable feedback after meetings.
Am I a vulnerable model and mentor? I practice being authentic and realistic because learning is a 2-way street. Do my proteges succeed as I teach them?
In teaching, you will be taught.
–Sylvester Stallone
The magic of having a clear life force, building a relationship, and providing both encouragement and correction – doesn’t change whether you’re in the same room or an ocean apart, but the question remains.
Will you go forward and cast your spell?
ABRACADABRA!
