The Unexpected Power of Informal Mentoring and Master Modeling

Mentorship is often touted as the silver bullet for rapid career advancement, but not all mentoring is created equal. Historically, legendary progress often came not from formal programs, but from organic, deeply personal mentor-mentee bonds. Groundbreaking research by Christina Underhill, who analyzed decades of mentoring programs, revealed a clear trend: informally developed mentoring relationships produce far better long-term outcomes—higher earnings, longer tenure, and more promotions—than forced or institutional pairings. Informal mentors care about the whole journey, not just tactical problems.

Take the example of Jimmy Fallon, whose career was accelerated not only by a strongly invested manager, but also by obsessively modeling the giants of comedy he admired from afar, deeply internalizing their cadence and mindset until excellence became second nature. Likewise, medical teams at Great Ormond Street Hospital revolutionized patient care not by copying routine procedures, but by building a real bond with elite Formula 1 pit crews and translating insights from that trust into day-to-day teamwork.

If you lack access to top local mentors, science says you can still reap enormous benefits by closely 'modeling' the greats: study biographies, analyze videos, and look for patterns in how they think, not just what they do. The difference between ordinary role models and transformative ones lies in noticing the small, critical details—and nurturing a two-way relationship, not just transactional advice.

Think about someone you genuinely admire whose journey inspires you, and consider how you might connect naturally, whether through a shared project, curiosity, or offering useful help. Start by reaching out or observing, keeping your focus on learning—don’t simply ask for a mentorship favor. As you build rapport, share your dreams and listen openly, letting feedback shape your approach. If you can't get in-person contact, go deep: find talks or interviews, study their work in detail, and jot down specifics you can imitate. The more authentic and reciprocal you make your connections—with real vulnerability—the more you'll grow, both in skill and in wisdom. Give yourself permission to experiment with this kind of relationship building this month.