Mentorship

Duryodhana and Arjuna go to Krishna at Dvaraka to ask for his and his army's help. Duryodhana arrives first and finds Krishna asleep. Duryodhana chooses a seat at Krishna's head and waits for him to awaken, while Arjuna sits and waits at Krishna's feet. When Krishna woke up, he saw Arjuna first and gave him the first right to make his request. Krishna tells Arjuna and Duryodhana that he would give the Narayani Sena to one side and himself as a non-combatant to the other. When given the choice of either Krishna's army or Krishna himself on their side, Arjuna chooses Krishna,. Arjuna asks Krishna to be his charioteer, who agrees.

Bhagavad Gita is the collection of dialogues between the Mentor (Sri Krishna) and the Seeker (Arjuna). It is a great guide that defines the relationship between the mentor and the seeker. It also defines the qualities of the mentor and the seeker. Lord Krishna is the ideal and perfect mentor one can aspire to have. Throughout the dialogues, Lord Krishna exemplified the power of persuasion, influence and inspiration.

Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things

The legendary investor Warren Buffett talked about his mentor and professor Benjamin Graham, “I knew Ben as my teacher, my employer and my friend. In each relationship — just as with all his other students, employees and friends — there was an open-ended, no-scores-kept generosity of ideas, time and spirit,” he says. “If clarity of thinking was required, there was no better place to go. And if encouragement was needed, Ben was there.” Ben Graham didn’t coax his thoughts to his seekers, instead used an open mind to invite discussions, debates and dialogues to mentor his seekers.

Mentoring is the process by which people help a protege to promote the protege’s personal and professional growth for organizational success. Mentoring is routinely seen as manifesting soft skills such as the classical virtues of kindness and generosity. 

Krishna saw the needs as well as the potential of his young friend and built a successful mentoring relationship. He was leader, manager, negotiator, manipulator, motivator, influencer, all rolled into one. As the account of not just the war but the entire Pandava saga shows, Krishna’s help would enable Arjuna to surmount obstacles and achieve success personally as well as professionally i.e in his duties as a warrior and a prince.

1. Stop Worrying: It is rightly said in Gita, “Whatever has happened, happened for the good. Whatever is happening is happening for the good. Whatever will happen, will also happen for the good”. We should stop unnecessary worrying and live life to the fullest by living in the present. 
2. Develop a Pragmatic Approach: We need to develop a balanced outlook towards events happening around us. We need to learn how to accept and respect other’s perspective even if we don’t agree with their perspective.
3. Change is Inevitable: It has been clearly mentioned that Change is the Law of The Nature! Nothing in this universe is permanent other than change so we shouldn’t be reluctant to the changes in our lives. If you want to be successful be more open to change, adapt to new circumstances, be innovative and look forward to explore different opportunities. 
4. Be More Acceptable and Forgive Easily: You never know what life will throw at you. If it throws lemons at you, make lemonade. In short, make utmost out of the situation whatever may the situation be. Acceptance and tolerance helps us to overcome the hardships of life with poise and calmness. You should forgive others for your own good as that will help you to get over with resentment and animosity. These two values help you to build stronger relations like Pandava brothers. 
5. Be Positive: Learn to control the flow of thoughts in your mind through meditation. Meditation is the source of self-enlightenment and helps you to keep negative thoughts away from your mind and be positive towards life. 
6. Don’t Work for Fruits: ‘Karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo’ is the sagest message given in the Bhagwad Gita. In today’s world we work either for money, a car, a better house or for a secure future. We are so result driven that if we don’t achieve that result, we get disheartened and feel dejected.
7. Stay Calm and Compose: When you know how to stay calm and compose during hardships half the battle is already won! A calm and compose mind helps you to react in a balanced way during life crises. 
8. Give Back to the World: These days people believe in only taking from others or the universe. They don’t think about being empathetic towards others or the universe. Gita teaches us to be selfless and work towards the benefit of all.
9. Don’t Be Afraid: “You came empty handed, and you will leave empty handed. What is yours today belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone else tomorrow.” When nothing belongs to you and your soul is neither born nor does it die then why you should be afraid of anything or any consequences. You should live your life in present by being fearless and worriless.