Dr. Slava Shut

In this article, Dr. Slava Shut discusses his personal thoughts and insight on the impact of mentorship and its positive influence in life.

I am someone who believes in making connections and seeking wisdom from those who have already had experience in the world. To me, a mentor is a person who has gained knowledge, made a path for themselves, and wants to share their knowledge to help others. Seeking out someone who can be positively influential in your life is extremely beneficial.

When you work with a mentor you have to be two things, teachable and coachable. To be teachable, you possess a personal need to learn and absorb all information that is discovered and given to you. A person who wants to learn goes beyond listening and applies themself into new ideas. Teachability is a quality that signifies if the individual truly wants to grow in mind and in life.

Being coachable goes beyond intaking information and expands to consideration and instruction. A person who is coachable is an individual who takes directions and trusts what they are being instructed to do even if they have the slightest doubt. Doubt doesn’t further progress, it regresses it. For example, it’s like playing a game and having the coach give you a play. Ideally in a high-pressure situation you’re going to follow the instruction of the coach because they know what is best for you and can see the whole court. But instead of committing to the play your coach advised, you instead tell your coach you won’t do it. At that point you have lost the game. The doubt has driven you to stop and disregard the instruction and success your coach can see clear ahead. You should never doubt your mentors; you need to trust that they are there to help you. Mentors take away many years of trials and tribulations from your path and ensure everything is organized and easier.

When looking for a mentor you need to find someone who has established experience, as well as someone who shares similar values and interests with you. In my own experience, I have found many mentors throughout my life starting with clinical mentors in sports medicine programs, mentors through residencies, internships, business and finance mentors such as my two close partners Gene Copa and Hanna Horenstein. Watching them inspired me to pursue my ambitions and with their guidance I found out it is achievable.

Mentors are more than people, they are inspiration. When you find someone who wants to positively influence you to create your dreams, you should consider taking time to open up your ears and your mind to the opportunity ahead.