Thoughts about LAFN Mentoring

Fellow Mentors -

I know that this is a difficult time to be an LAFN mentor. Many of us give our personal phone numbers to the users with whom we work and, as a result, can and do often receive phone calls at odd hours about all sorts of things. I have no doubt that those of you who are active in mentoring our users have received more than a couple slightly (or worse) frantic phone calls.

We deal with frantic users all the time. That is our avocation for whatever reasons we decide to engage in such action.

The rocky time that LAFN is currently experiencing is not that much different. We need to remind ourselves of what is important.

I say this from direct experience as both a mentor and a Steering Committee member. When I'm working with a user, I have to separate what I consider on a day-to-day basis as a Steering Committee member from what is important at the moment:

Getting the user back up and running and happy.

After all is said and done, the most important things are, in order, two things:

1) make sure the customer/user is working

2) make sure the customer/user is pleased.

If you can do just these two things, then you have done your job admirably.

Now, if you *can't* fix a customer, that is no reflection on yourself as a human being. The right thing to do then is to tell the customer something like,

"Gosh, I don't know how to fix you up given your particular problem at the moment, but you know what I can do? I can give this over to someone who I *know* can help you out."

And then you refer the user to another mentor you know or to me or Doug, *and* you let us know that a user is coming in with a particular problem.

It would be very helpful to know in advance what the problem is before Doug or I try to resolve it. :)

I'm just saying, I got into mentoring with lafn because I wanted to give back what was given so freely to me (knowledge and help) and I could touch the concept of sharing.

- - -

If a user is angry or whatever, refer them to me or Doug, we will take care of it.

But if you can work with the user, then that is what LAFN is all about, and has been from day one.

That is what I believe in.

Best to all, John

updated 20 August 2006 0120 pdt