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not on anyone else’s journey. Some moments ask us to move forward on the trajectory we are currently on, but other times, disruption is the best course of action. The bottom line is this: be unafraid to share and tackle difficult decisions that make sense for your trajectory and your life. ■ “Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.” As you progress into more senior roles, consider stepping into the mentor role. At the risk of sounding corny, the relationships you build will feed your soul. Giving back should be one of your mantras. If you engage as a mentor for the right reasons, the success of your mentees will be a source of great pride. It sounds like common sense to support and encourage others through our gained experiences, but as Voltaire said, “Common sense is not so common.” Take the step into being a mentor if you have not already. Let’s take a page from Bob Marley to “get up, stand up” and start, restart, nurture, or adjust mentorship relationships to makes sense of this crazy marketing world. By doing this we build and support a meaningful community of colleagues who support each other and enrich the profession. Javier Suarez is a principal corporate marketing manager with Geosyntec Consultants. Contact him at jsuarez@geosyntec. com.
JAVIER SUAREZ, from page 3
Perspective can be a powerful tool; it’s an ideal topic of conversation for mentors and mentees. Mentors can share firsthand experiences and what they have witnessed as an observer of other people’s paths. Mentees need to learn that the road to wisdom is long and paved with many experiences, setbacks, and unforeseen moments. Because of this, bouncing ideas and concerns off a mentor is much better than processing situations in a vacuum. ■ “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright.” Setbacks will certainly happen in your career. Consider that you don’t have to overcome mishaps by yourself: work with your mentors to build resilience. Early in my career, an executive told me I needed to be a “quick-change artist.” This is one of the most valuable lessons I learned and I’ve applied it the many times I have needed to pivot in my career. Singing this refrain from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” has grounded me and spurred meaningful discussions with my mentors, allowing me to turn complications into positive experiences. ■ “Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.” Sometimes, especially early on, we may feel married to one career track, preferring to stick with a certain company, industry, or even mimicking a colleague’s path. This is where mentors can also be life coaches. We are
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THE ZWEIG LETTER AUGUST 5, 2024, ISSUE 1548
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