Here’s a great story about how Walt Disney mentored two TV producers in about five minutes. I think of mentoring as being much more time consuming and often occurring over long periods. But the definition of mentor as a verb is to advise or train, often a younger colleague. And here’s Walt’s advice from the article We Are Having Major Action in The Wall Street Journal:
There’s a great story: At the Seattle World’s Fair, we were having lunch with Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin, and sitting at the next table was Walt Disney. Walt came over to say hello, and we were both shaking. He said “I’ve heard about you guys…Can I give you some advice?” We said yeah. And Walt Disney said: always put your name above everything that you create, because some day it’s going to be worth something. That’s why we put our name, Sid and Marty Krofft, Sid and Marty Krofft, on everything.
Marty: The biggest thing he said was not that. He said: Whatever you do, don’t ever sell any of your creations. You’ll be making a big mistake. So we listened to him. And we’re still in it, and we’re still suffering, but we’re having a good time.
Obviously what Walt was advising them was about IP rights, not as a lawyer but as a fellow creative artist. But this advice also pertains to creative entrepreneurs as well. Built value in your name and hang on to your rights because some day it’s are going to be worth something.
Mentorphile 