b'FEATUREcontinued from page 14the transmission of subtle but crucial facial expressions KNOWLEDGE SHARED IS KNOWLEDGE GAINEDand other types of body language. My mentors have impacted my life in a positive way,When I started at Streets I had recently graduated andIstrivetoimplementtheirguidance,saidfrom college, so much of my knowledge was theoretical Watterson. Ive been in all the official positions on theand not practical, said Kristen Vos of R.R. Street in the California Cleaners Association, and I continue to beChicago area. This may sound pretty basic, but L. Ross active in the industry associations, which is how we stayBeard showed me practical ways to organize complex in touch with and support [i.e. mentor] each other.projects and large events that would help ensure all the Whenever one looks, it seems, are opportunities to bothdetailswerecovered.Evenifthelightsgoout,a teach and learn.business owner or manager who understands how eachpart of a drycleaners works will be better equipped totriage the business in times of crisis, knowing what topay attention to and what to leave dormant. I believe The Dead Sea is dead because itthat it is essential to have a variety of people in your lifewhom you turn to as trusted and experienced advisors, only has an inlet. It doesnt havewho can offer great insight into all kinds of situations an outlet. As youre given things,and decisions, Vos continued. And dont fret aboutkeeping or losing mentors. Sometimes a certain person you should give them away.will only be a mentor for a short period in your life inagivensituation,shewrote.Othersarelifelongmentors. Both are extremely important and valuable. - Norman Way, Puritan Cleaners, In other words, consciously value each moment spent Richmond, Virginiawith everyone you meet.All mentors eventually become family, but some startout that way. My mother had a British accent and she There are no known downsides to mentoring, orwas very dynamic, said Lynnette Watterson of Crystal being mentored. In fact, passing along as much of whatCleaning Center in San Mateo, California. Among the youvelearnedaspossibleisonewaytokeeplifeendearing stories she shared about her mother Violet balanced. Ideas and information are the kind of thingsJankswasthatthematriarchfoundedthecurrent you can give and receive but never have to let go of,business at the age of 45, shortly after emigrating to said Way. America from South Africa. At all of the meetings or The bottom line is this, Way said. In the Bibleconventions she went to she secured a front-row seat theres the story of the apostle Paul and young Timothyduring each presentation, always participated in Q&A, [Acts 16]. Paul was the older, wiser guy who poured intoalways paid very close attention, and always interacted Timothys ear, but Paul had someone earlier in his lifewiththepresenter.Bynatureadmittedlynotas who poured into his ear. In your life, you should alwaysoutgoing, Watterson said she finds herself copying her have someone you pour into, and someone who poursmothers habit of speaking publicly. We still have a into you, he said. The Dead Sea is dead because ithugepictureofher[hangingupabovethecash only has an inlet. It doesnt have an outlet. As youreregisters]. That front area is full of so much of her given things, you should give them away.presence. Shes still mentoring in absentia. Her little Thats the kind of advice people young and old needexpressions influence me even today. The best mentors to hear. Take someone aside, ask if theyre ready to startguide us even when they are no longer with us.learning, then share one of your best practices withthem, today!THIRD QUARTER 2019 15'