Who Are Your 5 Invisible Mentors and Why?

Invisible Mentors and Why They are Important

Before you can answer the question, “Who Are Your five Invisible Mentors and Why?” you have to understand how I define Invisible Mentors.

Definition of Invisible Mentors 

Based on much research, my definition of an invisible mentor is a unique leader you can learn things from by observing them from a distance – you image their good behaviours. Confucius imaged the good behaviours he observed in others, and checked himself for bad behaviors.

An Invisible Mentor is also a training tool as well as a different way of thinking, to move professionals from one stage of their life to a higher one through the systematic use of books, interviews, conversations and articles.  An Invisible Mentor awakens the “sleeping” genius within. To achieve this goal requires reading the right books, listening to the right interviews and conversing with the right people.

So, who are your five  Invisible Mentors?

Avil's Invisible Mentors

1. Julia Conn Watt (She taught me to be a better listener, which is a critical skill for success)
2. Jim Rohn ( I have learned a lot from his books and training programs)
3. Earl Nightingale (His training programs – Lead The Field and The Strangest Secret have inspired me)
4. Key to Yourself (This book by Venice Bloodworth profoundly impacted me)
5. The Magic of Thinking Big (This Book by Dr. David Schwartz is another book that profoundly impacted me)

As I grow and evolve as a person, and unleash more of the genius within me, I suspect that my invisible mentors will change. At this point in time, who are your five invisible mentors and why? Let us learn from each other!

Update: August 2013

Four years later, I have read hundreds more books and interviewed more people, and my invisible mentors are changing, and morphing. I have also researched many people who I consider wise, and I have learned so much from them. The book, Watership Down: A Novel is an invisible mentor because it demonstrates leadership in action. Marie Curie is an invisible mentor because not only was she a smart person who was awarded two Nobel Prizes, she was also humble, and teaches me to keep my ego in check. Charlie Chaplin would be on my list of invisible mentors because he knew what he was worth and made sure that he was compensated fairly.

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Author Bio: Avil Beckford, an expert interviewer, entrepreneur and published author is passionate about books and professional development, and that's why she founded The Invisible Mentor and the Virtual Literary World Tour to give you your ideal mentors virtually in the palm of your hands by offering book reviews and book summaries, biographies of wise people and interviews of successful people.

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Photo Credits: Avil Beckford