Becoming an Everyday Mentor
Think about the people who have shaped your life — not just the ones with an official title, but the ones who simply showed up. Maybe it was a teacher who encouraged you at just the right time. A coach who saw potential in you before you saw it yourself. A boss who took the extra time to teach you something valuable. Or maybe it was just a neighbor, a small group leader, or a friend who was present when you needed guidance.
We often think of mentorship as a formal relationship — structured meetings, long-term commitments, and intentional guidance. But some of the most impactful mentors in our lives don’t even realize they were mentors at the time. They were just people who lived with intentionality, who invested in those around them, and who made space for others in their everyday lives.
The beauty of mentorship is that it isn’t reserved for the distinguished, the exceptionally wise, or those with impressive titles. It’s something we all have the ability to do. Every day, we have opportunities to shape, encourage, and influence others — whether we recognize it or not. The question is, will we be intentional with those opportunities?
Looking back, I see how everyday mentors shaped my life. And now, I want to encourage you to do the same. Here are four people who mentored me in small but powerful ways — sometimes without even knowing it.
FOUR Everyday Mentors Who Changed My Life
1. Mrs. Mund-Johnson – A Teacher Who Taught Generosity
Mrs. Mund-Johnson wasn’t just my high school English teacher — she was a mentor in generosity. One assignment she gave us was simple yet powerful: she handed every student five dollars and told us to find a way to “pay it forward.” A few classmates and I pooled our money and raised even more to help someone who had lost many valuable possessions in a flood. She taught us that no matter how little we have, we can always make a difference.
2. Glen – A Youth Leader Who Simply Spent Time
Glen was in his early twenties when I met him. He served as a youth leader at our church and we instantly bonded over our shared love for sports. He’d invite a few of us over, cook hot dogs, and watch basketball games. We even forced him to bust out his old high school football highlights — he was an absolute beast. More than anything, he showed us that mentorship doesn’t have to be complicated. Just being present and spending time matters.
3. Joval – A Boss Who Saw What I Needed
When I was in college, Joval was my boss, but she became so much more than that. She noticed that I had literally no organizational skills, so she bought me my first planner and taught me how to use it. She cared about the students who worked for her. When I became a student manager, she’d meet with us to teach leadership, read books and havediscussions that shaped how we led and lived. She saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself.
4. Steve – A Coach Who Called Me Higher
I had many baseball coaches throughout my youth, but one stands out above the rest — Steve. He reminded us again and again that fundamentals matter and doing the little things leads to doing big things. More than that, he cared about who we were becoming. During a game, I let my frustration get the best of me and let some bad four-letter words fly from my mouth. It was pretty normal for a baseball dugout, but when I did it, Steve pulled me aside and said, “That’s not you. You’re better than that.” That moment stuck with me because he wasn’t just coaching a team — he was shaping character. He was calling me higher.
How to Be an Everyday Mentor
Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a mentor. But whether you realize it or not, someone is watching you, learning from you, and being shaped by how you live. So how can you step into that role intentionally? Here are a few simple ways:
Look around you. Who is already in your life that you can invest in? It might be a coworker, a student, a neighbor, or someone at church.
Add value. What can you offer? Is there a skill you can teach, an experience you can share, or wisdom you can pass down?
Recognize your influence. You don’t need a platform or a title. Just be faithful with what you know and who’s in front of you.
Invite people into your life. Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal — just bring people along for what you’re already doing. Grocery runs, dinner at your house, or watching a game together can be moments of impact.
Go the extra mile. Whether you’re a teacher, coach, boss, or friend, look for ways to invest in people beyond what’s expected. Your investment will stand out.
Be bold. Speak life, challenge people, and call them to something greater — just like Steve did for me in that dugout.
See the potential in others. Sometimes, people need someone to believe in them before they believe in themselves. Call out the gifts, strengths, and possibilities you see in others. Be generous with your affirmation and encouragement.
Ask Questions and Show Interest. Be intentional about asking others about their dreams, struggles, and goals. Simply showing you care can make a difference.
Share Your Failures and Lessons Learned. Don’t just mentor by success; mentor by showing how you’ve overcome obstacles and learned from mistakes.
Just do it. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just decide to be intentional with the people around you.
Your Influence Matters
You don’t have to be a teacher, a coach, or a boss to be a mentor. You just have to be someone who is willing to invest in others. Years from now, someone might look back and realize that you were their everyday mentor — the person who shaped them in ways they didn’t even recognize at the time.
So don’t underestimate your influence. Live with intentionality. Because someone is watching, someone is learning, and someone will be better because you chose to invest. You have more influence than you think.
But before you step into mentorship yourself, take a moment to reflect. Who has poured into your life in unexpected ways? Who was there for you in a moment when you needed guidance, encouragement, or simply someone to believe in you? Maybe they never knew the impact they had, but you do.
Think about them. Honor their influence. Maybe even give them a call or write them a letter to thank them. And then, ask yourself—how can you pass that same kind of investment forward? Because someone in your life right now needs exactly what you once received. Will you be the everyday mentor they remember years from now?