The End is the Beginning
Editor’s note: This post was written as a goodbye to our mentorship season. Even if you weren’t able to participate this year, we guarantee there are a few nuggets that could come in handy as you reflect on your own season of change. Make sure you don’t miss out on any upcoming events, including the next mentorship season — follow us everywhere:
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Each year when our mentorship program comes to a close, we look back at the previous six months and wonder where all the time went. As our first cohort under the Wintry Mix banner, the end of this program feels particularly bittersweet. So many of ya'll hung in there and got to know one another and undoubtedly helped each other through some things.
We want to make double-sure the relationships you've built don't just go quietly into the night. You've worked too hard for them. Here's a few things to consider as your official time together winds down:
Take a solo moment to jot down some thoughts about the last six months. What have you learned, who have you met, what outstanding questions do you still have? If your time was mostly personal/social, do you have outstanding biz-related needs? If your time was mostly all business, do you want to learn more about your partner personally? Don't leave things unsaid.
Share that intel with your partner. Use your last meeting to chat about how you're feeling, what you've gotten from each other, and what you think you need going forward. Maybe what you need and want is to not end your meetings at all!
Schedule a 6-month check-in. Okay, maybe most of you won't continue your regular monthly meetings, but go ahead and put a meeting on the calendar for six months from now to say “hello” and see how things are going. A lot can change in six months.
Think about passing along a new connection or two — who can you introduce your mentor or mentee to in order to keep the good times rolling? It doesn't have to be a forever love match, and it doesn't have to be about career advancement. Making friends as adults is hard, so your intro can also just be for fun.
The most important thing is that you don't just let your new connections go without acknowledging the journey.
// Image by Corina Rainer