The Odyssey is doing extraordinary things in theaters right now: record opening, hundreds of millions worldwide, IMAX screens sold out months in advance.
But The Odyssey isn’t just drawing crowds because of a marketing budget.
It's because we're all on one of our own.
Your odyssey may not involve a one-eyed giant in a cave, but you've faced something that threatened to swallow you whole:
- The restructuring.
- The diagnosis.
- The boss who made you question your own competence.
Different costumes, same monsters.
Tony Robbins wrote a terrific LinkedIn post mapping The Odyssey onto Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, condensed into seven clear steps, each paired with moments from his own life. (It's worth reading.)
So I did what he's inviting all of us to do and looked at my own journey through those steps. I've lived every one, personally and professionally, and some I'm cycling a second or third time through new chapters of life.
But the one I keep coming back to is Step 4: Meeting the Mentor.
Athena… on my desk
Step 4 is where Odysseus meets Athena, goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, who guides him on the journey by influencing how he sees the path and obstacles in front of him.
Robbins ends that step with three words: “find your Athena.”
Which stopped me, because I already have one. Literally.
There's a bronze statue of Athena on my desk. I've had an affinity for her for years, and I look at her when it's time to go to battle in one arena or another.
But she isn't my mentor. She's closer to an alter ego. She doesn't tell me anything I don't already know; she reminds me who to be before I walk into the room, or take on a challenging task.
My actual mentors, in contrast, have been human, and I've been blessed with many.
- There was my Japanese professor at American University, who looked at me at 21 and said, “Laura, you should be a linguist.” I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded cool (yes, I was a nerd even then). The rest is history.
- There was my dissertation advisor, who opened the door to cognitive linguistics and gave me the lens I still use every day.
- There have been business coaches at many stages of the last eighteen years
- There are my parents, modeling from the beginning what marriage and family is all about
- And there's Tony Robbins himself. I never worked with him one on one, but through his programs and books I learned an enormous amount about myself, business, and psychology.
All of them are still daily influences on my life.
Why every hero has a guide
Look at the stories that stick with us and you'll find the same figure in every one.
- Luke had Yoda.
- Daniel LaRusso (the Karate Kid) had Mr. Miyagi.
- Meg Murry (A Wrinkle in Time) had Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which
All of these guides led the just-a-regular-person-turned-hero across their respective universes, and stopped at the edge, because only the hero could fight the ultimate battle.
That's the job. Not removing the obstacle. Seeing the terrain, naming the real problem, helping you fight the internal battles that prepare you for the external ones.
Maybe in your own odyssey, a board interview for a C-suite role is your cyclops: one enormous, unblinking eye deciding whether you survive.
Maybe the sirens are the voices telling you to keep your mouth shut when you need to speak up… or telling you to blurt out exactly what you’re thinking, unfiltered, regardless of the consequences.
And if you find yourself facing the six-headed monster of having to give a TED talk, a conference presentation, a eulogy, or a father-of-the-bride toast, you may find yourself wishing there was a giant whirlpool to swallow you and your entire ship whole, rather than face the fifteen minutes you'll replay for the rest of your life.
Nobody sails past those alone. Not well, anyway.
The part I didn't expect
What I didn't anticipate, when I was the one being guided, is how much joy there is in taking that responsibility on for someone else.
I've walked clients through the grueling stretches, such as succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, and toxic workplaces they had to survive with their credibility intact.
I've helped people find their voice and become the version of themselves they always wanted to be but never quite believed was possible.
And I've worked with them on the shorter obstacles: the job talk, the eulogy, the toast.
Nothing is more humbling, or more gratifying, than hearing a client say:
“This was a life changing experience.”
“I realized I'm as born for this as anyone else.”
“I'll never view my career the same way again.”
Now, let’s be clear: I'm not so deluded as to think of myself as a Greek goddess. But I am inspired by every client-hero who entrusts me with the honor of guiding them on their own journey.
Your turn
Here are three questions I invite you to sit with:
First: who has been your Athena, your Yoda, your Mrs. Whatsit? Who made the comment that redirected your life, or stood beside you through the ugliest stretch of it. Share it with me.
Second: where are you already serving as a guide for someone else, formally or informally?
Third: Where should you be stepping up to guide someone else?
There's an old adage: When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
If it's time for the next leg of your own journey and you’re looking for the right guide for the odyssey ahead, drop me a line.
Not ready for the guide, but looking for a map to get started? Read the first two chapters of Speaking to Influence free
Your journey to becoming the hero you were born to be, awaits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Meeting the Mentor” in the Hero's Journey? It's Step 4 in the commonly used version of Joseph Campbell's framework: the point where the hero encounters a guide who provides wisdom, tools, or perspective for the road ahead. Odysseus had Athena, Luke Skywalker had Yoda, Daniel LaRusso had Mr. Miyagi. The mentor never completes the journey for the hero. They help the hero become capable of completing it.
What's the difference between a mentor and an executive coach? A mentor typically shares wisdom drawn from having walked a similar path, often informally and over years. An executive coach works with structure and method to develop new skills that lead toward a defined outcome, such as a promotion, a high-stakes presentation, or a leadership transition, or overall stronger personal brand. Many leaders need both: one for perspective, one for measurable skill development.
How do I know when I need a mentor or coach? Usually when the gap between where you are and where you want to be stops closing on effort alone. Common triggers include a board interview or C-suite candidacy, a succession or M&A process, a toxic environment you have to navigate without losing credibility, or a single high-stakes speech you can't afford to get wrong.
Can you get coaching for one specific event, like a TED talk or a eulogy? Yes. Some of the most meaningful work happens in short engagements built around a single moment: a TED talk, a keynote, a eulogy, or a father-of-the-bride speech. The stakes in those moments are personal, permanent, and worth preparing for.
