Find a mentor often takes us out of our comfort zones and we shouldn’t let that stop us from finding one. But it’s not a requirement of finding a mentor and if you grandfather would be a good choice then go for it.

@KAY
I think for the purposes of this specific series, the goal is to find someone of the same sex whom you wish to learn from. I couldn’t learn how to be a better man, by example, from a woman – which it seems the point is. Not that a woman couldn’t and wouldn’t have great ideas, but from what I gather here… a big factor is finding someone you can emulate, in certain ways.

However, broaden the spectrum away from simply this series’ endeavor, and I wholeheartedly recommend finding a mentor in whoever you can. I have had some lackluster male models in my life, and from that I have learned how NOT to be.. and it has earnestly made me a better man. I am now able to have great relationships with male friends, because I can recognize what character traits I value and appreciate. I have, though, always found great platonic relationships with women.. that’s just how I am. I recently took a screenwriting class with a female teacher, and we connected very well. She and I shared many similarities, and if I were interested in doing so, I would have no qualms with pursuing her for a mentorship. I wouldn’t necessarily ask her to be my mentor in pursuit of my “30 Days to a Better Man” so the answer to your question, in my mind, is both a yes and no

Right, so as I said, you don’t have to ask someone straight out to be your mentor. You just have to ask them to hang out some time and initiate the relationship. If you’re looking for a work mentor, you can just say “Can we have lunch from time to time so I can ask you about some questions I’m having about my job?” Or it you need an academic mentor, you can him “Would it be all right if I came by once a week to talk about my research?”