My Greatest Mentor: Part 5

My Greatest Mentor: Part 5

Great mentors have impeccable ethics.  And, my greatest mentor, Ray Bell, taught me the most important lesson of all: teaching is an ethical act!  Effective mentors, trainers and change agents must be clean in their learner-dealings, not false, manipulative, or...
My Greatest Mentor: Part 4

My Greatest Mentor: Part 4

Great mentors find humor in most things. My greatest mentor, Ray Bell, was no comedian! In fact, he was a very shy man. But, he enjoyed a great tease and was as quick to laugh at himself as he was to laugh with others. His humor was innocent and authentic, never...
My Greatest Mentor: Part 3

My Greatest Mentor: Part 3

Great mentors show perpetual curiosity. And my greatest mentor, Ray Bell, was all about curiosity. Daddy asked me questions to which he did not know the answer. That always stood in stark contrast with the experiences I witnessed in many of my friends’ parents....
My Greatest Mentor: Part 2

My Greatest Mentor: Part 2

Great mentors are participative partners.  And, Ray Bell, my greatest mentor, was such a partner. The words: “How ‘bout going and getting the tractor and park it in the barn?”  were powerful music to my ears when I was a ten-year old growing up on a farm. It was...
My Greatest Mentor:  Part 1

My Greatest Mentor: Part 1

Great mentors are judgment-free.  And, Ray Bell, my greatest mentor, was such a person.  Daddy could be a stern task master and a tough disciplinarian.  He was very much a perfectionist when it came to performance.  He expected the best, demanded the best and...