I did a TED TALK!
On November 10 2022, “Thank you for listening to my TED talk” got a whole new meaning to me. I was blessed enough to work at a company that hosts TEDx events and was given the opportunity to present my idea in the form of a 10 minute talk titled “Unconventional Mentor”!
I’m always asked, where can people view this TEDx talk? Unfortunately, due to the contract my company has with TED I am not able to post the video to any external platforms. I think the idea of unconventional mentorship is a powerful one and decided to use Expose Your Manhood to convey this message. Maybe one day I’ll be able to give this talk in another setting and post it on Youtube. But for now here is UNCONVENTIONAL MENTORSHIP.
What is Unconventional Mentorship ?
Unconventional Mentorship represents a shift in our understanding of mentorship. Rather than viewing it as a hierarchical form of learning and guidance, it entails the capacity to approach learning with humility and an open mind, embracing opportunities to glean wisdom from individuals and circumstances without regard to one’s background, status, age, or other defining factors.
The idea of Unconventional Mentorship came to me in 2018, when I was just 2 months into Corporate America. I was invited back to my alma mater – University of Texas Arlington to be a mentor at a speed mentoring event. I went in ready to drop gems on these college students, and I believe I did, but what also happened was I learned so much from these students as well. I learned about different collaboration techniques and brainstorming techniques and so on. Valuable things that I could have actually incorporated in my career. It was my big AHA! moment. It hit me! If we remain open and shift our perspective we can be guided by anyone and any situation. But we have to strip our ego and be open. I was able to learn from these “unconventional mentors” in a very unconventional mentorship program.
We all have Unconventional Mentors in our life. We just have to be open to seeing it that way. If we remove the hierarchical way of thinking of mentorship then we can unlock so much more untapped potential of becoming the best version of ourselves and the best men we could be.
Why Unconventional Mentorship ?
I think we honestly can learn qualities, skillsets and other behaviors from anyone. During my TED talk, I shared an illustrative story of how I discovered my career aspirations through my mother, who never attended a university or had a clear understanding of what an engineer’s role entailed. Her guidance ultimately led me to a flourishing career path. I am constantly able to learn from her thanks to her different perspective and wisdom. Some of the advice I get from my mother I don’t even receive from people in Corporate America.
In my TED talk, I discuss my then-3-year-old son, Remir. It’s remarkable how toddlers, untouched by the complexities of the world, offer profound lessons through their interactions. Remir has consistently shown me the art of quick forgiveness, the significance of asking “WHY,” and the importance of extending an olive branch in our interactions with others.
It goes without saying, the concept of UNCONVENTIONAL MENTORSHIP is two fold. It refers to unconventional ways of doing mentoring like the speed mentoring event I participated in, and also the ability to learn from people we may not perceive we can learn from. I’ve shifted from solely seeking guidance from those with more experience and stature; I now actively seek unconventional mentors across various facets of my life.
An Unconventional Mentor has no limit; it can be your parent, your kid, the stranger on Linkedin, your peers or less experienced co-workers. Be willing to learn from anyone and any situation.
How does this relate to us as men?
In my view, every man can benefit from having mentors, and these mentors don’t necessarily have to be individuals who are more accomplished or successful than us. By staying receptive and eager to learn, we can acquire valuable insights that can help us become better individuals.
The little Engineer that could! Ryian Williams, wears multiple hats as a husband, father, author, speaker, and engineer. Driven by his enthusiasm for coaching and uplifting men, he has embraced the lifelong mission of guiding men toward becoming the most authentic versions of themselves
I don’t think everyone can be a “mentor” per say, however, we can definitely learn from everyone. And as you’ve alluded too, mentorship has to do with experience in a certain field so once a person has ample experience and know-how then we should be open to their guidance. However, I’m not about to listen to a 25 year old giving life lessons anytime soon 😅
Really important cause we actually don’t know who is going to give us the wisdom we may need at any point in time.