Mentoring:

Can you put a price on these things? A smile?  Encouragement? A successfully completed task? Friendship? A shoulder to cry on? Experience? Self worth? These things like many others in the world today are priceless. They also have low investment cost when you share them with others.

 Mentoring is a marvelous thing. It adapts to all situations – professional, personal, and recreational. We all have something we can share with someone else. It can be as simple as an experience, encouragement, support, advice, friendship, or a smile. Or it can be a more detailed teaching setting where you are actively imparting knowledge of a topic to someone else.

 Mentoring can take on two forms. It can be a formal structured relationship with goals, schedules and an ending. Or it can be an informal sharing and spending time together.

 We all mentor. Even when we don’t know we are doing it. We share past experiences of victory and of loss. We show appreciation of a job or an attempt well done. We at times are cheerleaders on the sidelines. We are friends. We smile.

 As soon as the question “Would you like to mentor someone?” is asked the flood of excuses usually start. It is too much work. I don’t have time. It costs too much. I can’t do that. I can’t make a difference. They wouldn’t be interested in what I have to offer.

 Since entering the llama community five years ago our family has been exposed to some of the best mentors in the world! From these mentors we have gained knowledge and insight in a variety of topics from conformation, showing, farming, developing lasting friends, and celebrating diversity. Many of you have freely shared past experiences – successes and failures – so that we could learn.

 The knowledge and experience that we have gained, we have tried to pass to others coming into the llama world.  Llamas are special unique animals and llama folks are special unique people. Most are ready with helpful advice, hints, congratulations and tears when needed.    

As responsible llama breeders, we should be serving as mentors to every person we sell a llama to. We should be there with information, assistance, encouragement, and help if needed. We should also be mentoring new members of the llama community in the safe and ethical way to show, breed, and exhibit the animals.

By mentoring someone not only do you share knowledge but you also add to someone’s self worth and purpose. You have the power to truly make the world a better place, just by sharing you and your life experiences.  And also to make the world a better place for our llamas to live in.  Well informed, prepared and educated are some of the best qualities of new llama owners.

 Many of you are tremendous mentors and have touched and changed the lives of many. To those who mentor, THANK YOU! Thank you for taking time, for giving advice, for being supportive, for encouraging and for being there.

May the llama community never lose those people who care enough about people and llamas to take the time and make the effort to mentor. So for all you mentors out there KUDOS!!!!!  For the rest of you what are you waiting for?

From a Mentored Llama Owner, Breeder,  
Mitzi Ross, Good News Llamas