Mentors: Why overwhelming information needs a human filter

Remember the days before Google Maps? You had to stop and ask people for directions. Wild, right? Mentors are like those people you stopped to ask, they’re the ones who guide you when the road ahead looks like a spaghetti junction, except this time, it’s life we’re navigating.

Why Mentorship still matters in the age of information overload

Sure, we’ve got the internet now. You can Google “how to become a better designer” or “how to fix your life in five easy steps.” But let’s be honest, half the time, you end up in a rabbit hole of unrelated YouTube videos or buying a course you’ll never finish.

Fun fact: Research shows that people today consume about 74 GB of information per day, equivalent to watching 16 movies. That’s daily. And most of it is noise. Mentors cut through that noise. They don’t just throw random advice at you, they offer tailored guidance based on you.

My approach

I have mentors for all kinds of things:

• Personal life and values: These are the people who remind me to call my mom and not eat instant noodles for the third time this week.

• Spirituality: They help me stay centered when I’m ready to rage-quit on humanity.

• Design: These mentors are like Yoda, dropping wisdom bombs that make me rethink everything from a brushstroke to a product launch.

Each of them keeps me aligned with the track I actually want to be on, not the one social media algorithms suggest.

Data doesn’t lie

Mentorship has real, measurable benefits:

• According to a study by Gartner, employees with mentors are five times more likely to get promoted.

• Another study found that 76% of people believe mentors are important, but only 37% have one. (That’s like knowing exercise is good for you but never actually hitting the gym.)

Trust, not just knowledge

A good mentor doesn’t just teach you stuff, they challenge you. They’ll ask the tough questions, like:

• “Are you doing this because you love it or because it looks cool on Instagram?”

• “What’s your end goal, and why?”

And because you trust them, you’ll actually stop to think before answering. That’s the magic of mentorship.

Final thoughts

In a world where every YouTuber with a ring light claims to be an expert, finding a mentor is like finding a lighthouse in a storm. They provide clarity, direction, and sometimes, a much-needed reality check.

So, if you don’t have a mentor yet, consider finding one. And if you already do, maybe send them a thank-you note. Or a coffee. Mentors are human too, after all.