“A mentor has the power to broaden your vision of what is possible.“ – Oprah Winfrey

The young Henri Matisse had never imagined becoming a painter. At the age of 21, he had never picked up a paintbrush. He was a simple, sickly, and depressed law clerk watching his days pass by without vision or passion for the future. One afternoon, while resting in bed after yet another bout of the flu, his mother, rummaging through items in the house’s basement, handed him a box of painting tools.

That day, the trajectory of his life changed. He felt a surge of energy as if freed from a dark prison that had held him captive. Light had entered his life for the first time. He embarked on the journey of learning to paint through a manual titled “How to Paint.” He spent all his days drawing and painting.

Four years later, as a self-taught artist, he was admitted to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under the mentorship of the expert Gustave Moreau. Gustave Moreau played a crucial role as a mentor to Henri Matisse. Moreau, a renowned artist of his time, encouraged his students to explore their creativity and break free from the academic conventions of the era.

Moreau’s Symbolist style, with its rich use of color and mythological themes, offered Matisse a different perspective on art. Although Matisse eventually gravitated toward Fauvism and a bolder, more colorful style, Moreau’s guidance and approach helped shape his artistic vision. Matisse often expressed his gratitude to Moreau for the inspiration and support he provided during his formative years.

Thus, even though their styles were vastly different, the mentor-student relationship between Moreau and Matisse significantly impacted the latter’s artistic evolution. Henri Matisse (1869-1954) became one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. Throughout his life, Matisse left a lasting legacy, influencing many artists and art movements worldwide. His approach to color and form continues to inspire and captivate art enthusiasts today.

A mentor is, therefore, someone who appears when you are ready. Henri Matisse was ready and encountered greatness. He had trained himself for four years until he reached his limits. The English-speaking world often says, “When the student is ready, the master shows up.” This is a divine principle. I observe people in life who struggle to step into the right opportunities because they lack determination.

Indeed, they are not fully committed to their endeavors. Even when you go to a bank to request a loan for starting a business or purchasing property, the banker will ask what you have as a contribution. It’s their way of saying, “What have you done so far? Have you worked hard enough? Have you given it your all? Have you exhausted your capabilities?”

God will never send a mentor until you have reached the phase where you have exhausted all your skills.

In the Bible, Mary tells the angel she has never known a man and doesn’t know how to proceed. In terms of human capabilities, she had done everything possible. That’s when the divine intervenes. It is similar in people’s destinies. When you reach a point where you have done everything in your power, tried everything, and struggled with no success, say to the Lord, “Send me a mentor. Send me help.”

Some people will ask God for money, and God will send them a person. Others will ask for financial resources, and God will send them a mentor—a person to bring knowledge and help them move to the next level. A mentor is someone who appears when you are ready. And being ready means you’ve tried everything! When you meet your mentor, they stir the “baby” inside you. Remember Mary and Elizabeth, who felt their babies leap. There was conviction, recognition, identification, and resonance.

When you meet your mentor, you will connect. Your mentor will possess qualities you already have but is far more advanced in their field. When you have a relationship with your mentor, the dream buried within you begins to come alive.

When you meet your mentor, you feel it’s possible again. Something stirs within them too. When you meet your mentor, they have compassion for you and want to help you become better because, in seeing you, they see themselves years ago.

When I conduct my coaching sessions and masterclasses, I always discuss finding one’s ideal client. I explain that the ideal client represents who you were several years ago. It’s someone going through struggles you once faced. As a mentor, you’ll naturally want to help them. That’s why people will ask for your help—they’ll see a mentor in you.

If you see me as a mentor, know that one day, you too will become someone else’s mentor. Everything a mentor tells you tends to address your gaps and shortcomings. Whenever a mentor speaks to you, they fill your reservoir. They help you progress to the point where you wonder why you didn’t meet them earlier. “You have the words of life for me.“

A mentor doesn’t need too many people around them because they are busy developing several individuals, which is not always easy. That’s why, when I organize my masterclasses, I don’t need many students—just a few to whom I can impart knowledge to make a broader impact.

Another thing: when you meet your mentor, you feel you must follow them because they are vital to your life. You sense they can bring about radical change. Jesus said to his disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Without a mentor, you have no future.

Here’s a hard truth I once struggled to accept. How could a person’s future depend on another individual? As harsh as it may seem, it remains the truth. God created interdependence among humans to maintain humility and ensure a balance among people.

God is spirit, but He raises people on earth to help us get where we need to go.

This text is an excerpt from the book “THE POWER OF A MENTOR“ written by WILLIAM DJAMEN.

We invite you to read the next article, “THE PARASITIC MENTEES.“

RECOGNIZE YOUR MENTOR. RECOGNIZE YOUR MENTOR.

RECOGNIZE YOUR MENTOR. RECOGNIZE YOUR MENTOR. RECOGNIZE YOUR MENTOR.