A Mentor Will Keep You In The Game, A Sponsor
Will Help you Win!
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forceseach of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteenyear old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister's place and must rely upon her sharpinstincts when she's pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared their entire lives. Ifshe's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena thatweigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Scenario:
Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) are on the train heading to the Capitol forthe Hunger Games. They are discussing game preparation with their mentor, Haymitch (WoodyHarrelson), who explains the huge benefit of having a sponsor.
Selected Scene:
Katniss: How do you find shelter?
Haymitch: Give me a chance to wake up sweetheart, this mentoring is very taxing stuff…can you pass the marmalade?
Effie: That is Mahagony!
Haymitch: Look at you, just killed a placemat. You really want to know how to stay alive? You get people to like you. Oh! Not what you were expecting. When you’re in the middle of the games, and you’re starving or freezing, some water, a knife or even some matches can mean the difference between life and death, and those things only come from sponsors. And to get sponsors, you have to make people like you…and right now sweetheart, you’re not off to a really good start.
Business Tip:
Hopefully, you were fortunate to have a mentor in high school or college. If not, it’s never too late to get one. As you may or may not know, mentors are great in providing guidance or assistance as you navigate the various issues of the workplace. Many in the workplace are unaware of the next level up from a mentor, it happens to be a sponsor. Sponsors are basically what the name means, an individual who puts their money where their mouth is, which in this case, is their word and reputation. The most common example of this is someone who connects you with their contacts through a personal recommendation or someone who will give you direct access to that next level you are seeking. To obtain a relationship of this caliber, requires a big commitment with a proven history of loyalty to the potential sponsor, starting with real evidence that you are worthy to whatever it is you may be seeking. As in the case of Katniss and Peeta, having a sponsor can keep them in the game by providing support only a sponsor can provide.
Seeking and obtaining a sponsor does not come easy and requires serious relationship building (trust, honesty, a solid work ethic, etc.). I suggest you place this at the top of your “to-do” list on the refrigerator, right up there with milk, eggs, and toilet paper!
