Importance of Mentor's and advice

         

          Robin, from 'Batman D.C. Comics' was taken in by Batman after he witnessed the death of his parents to a mafia boss. Throughout his youth Robin was taught and developed by Batman into the super hero he grew to become. In short Batman taught him the tricks of the trade, educating him and teaching him how to lead. As Robin grew older, he became the leader of the teen titans. Repeating what Batman had done to him to others.
        Through the adoption of Robin, Batman mentored the young boy into adulthood. The term mentor is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. It was used about Odysseus's trusted counselor, in ancient Greek Mythology, where Athena became the guardian and teacher of Telemachus. Most major businesses, our armed forces officer's training, plus Christian groups and churches now use mentoring to represent a special relational process. Many people in life seek out a professional in their field of business or in their field of study others seek out spiritual leaders.
          Biblically looking at mentoring I've enjoyed looking at Moses the part of his story where Jethro step into a mentoring position with Moses. (Exodus 18) that same story continues on with Moses mentoring Joshua on leadership. (Deut. 3:28) Many examples of mentoring emerge throughout the Bible, besides Moses some other key mentoring relationships to look at would be Paul and Timothy and Jesus to the disciples. As Believers we have been called to making disciples (Mt. 28:19) disciple making is "to be teaching and instructing, or to be discipled is to follow ones pretenses and instructions."(Study Light)
       If someone hasn't been investing time into us how will we know how to invest in others? We need to be led and taught by others, before we can teach others. We must submit to others in leadership. I don't know of any corporation where one person makes all the decisions without taking advice from any one else. Robin acted on the advice of Batman throughout his walk. Had the comics and shows never had batman take in Robin I don't believe he would have turned into the crime fighting man he is. In my own life I know without guidance of my own life mentor I would never have made it to where I am today.

Some further reading;
       Bo Boshers:  The Be-With Factor: Mentoring students in everyday Life
       Tony Dungy: The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People and Teams that Win Consistently.