Transitions: Time for Reflection
If you're lucky, you will find happiness and fulfillment in your personal life as well as your career. And if you're exceedingly lucky, you will find a mentor to help you attain those pinnacles and share in the joys.
This month saw the passing of one of my mentors. As anyone who has lost someone important knows, a death is a sad and painful event.
And yet, as everyone knows who has had the privilege of having their lives enriched by some other person, a death is a time for reflection of the wonderful and momentous ways in which that person has enhanced your life.
It's been my blessing to have been mentored and inspired by recently deceased friend. His transition is the changing of a season—one that was expected, but difficult to accept nevertheless. Surrounding him were loving and talented and accomplished children and colleagues. His wife and his partner of many years has been an inspiration for me, along with my mentor.
As law firms have increased in size and as pressures continue to mount to increase billable hours, there often has been no time left for old-fashioned mentoring. Yet, new associates do not advance without the benefits of mentoring as practiced in years past. Recognizing these benefits, many firms formally designate more senior lawyers to mentor younger associates. Other firms say that the newer lawyer must seek out his or her own mentor from among the firm's elders who are willing to make the contribution.
Either way, I hope that young lawyers recognize the benefit of mentoring and strive to gain the most from the experience. My life was certainly better for having had the experience of being mentored.
My wish for you is that you have the joyful experience of being acquainted with numerous people who encourage, inspire, and mentor you every day.
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