Mentorship from Afar

Howdy from Durham,

Today, we’re talking about mentorship in the digital age.

Let’s jump to it.

When mentors collide.

I’m a huge fan of Tristan Harris. I’ve previously written about him here.

Harris’ recognition grew after he was the subject matter expert on Netflix’s documentary, The Social Dilemma. He has since co-founded the Center for Humane Technology as a non-profit to advance ethical tech.

I’m also a fan of Nita Farahany (who I’ve also written about here and here).

Nita is a lawyer, futurist, and Duke University professor. She has championed the notion of “cognitive liberty” per her book The Battle for Your Brain - Defending the Right to Think Freely in The Age of Neurotechnology (see my write-up on the book here).

I consider these two as mentors from afar because they shape the decisions I am making (a concept I learned from Derek Sivers).

That’s why I was fired up this week when I saw that Nita was a guest on Your Undivided Attention, a CHT podcast co-hosted my Tristan Harris.

My mentors were colliding, and I had the chance to be a part of it.

Listen to Nita Farahany’s episode of Your Undivided Attention above.

Why is mentorship from afar profound?

Tristan Harris works at the intersection of tech & ethics.

Nita Farahany works at the intersection of tech & ethics.

Is it that crazy to think that the two would meet or collaborate? No.

What is crazy is that I’m privy to a conversation that they hosted. This is unlike any other time in human history.

Up until the last few decades - and really, I’d argue the last 15 years - the distribution of information was wildly constrained.

Previously, your ability to develop mentors was largely based on your geographic location and socioeconomic status.

Now, in the age of information, anyone can consume hours of video, audio, and written content from folks they look up to as long as they’re connected to the internet.

This is a massive paradigm shift. It requires us to become intentional about the mentors that we’re letting guide us.

My list of mentors from afar

The questions I asked myself to build this list:

1. Who creates content that gives me energy?

2. Who produces work that I write about the most?

3. Who are the folks that shape my habits and mental models?

My answers will shift through the different seasons of life, but is my list today:

• Tristan Harris - design ethicist, podcaster, Co-Founder of the Center for Humane Technology

• Nita Farahany - professor, author of The Battle for Your Brain, lawyer, philosopher, and ethicist

• Andrew Huberman - professor, neurobiologist, host of The Huberman Lab podcast

• John Mark Comer - pastor, theologian, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

• Derek Thompson - writer of the Work in Progress newsletter

The cool thing about listing them out is then uncovering what the common threads are between each of them.

My mentors’ interests: technology, well-being, and philosophy

My mentors’ skills: writing, podcasting, speaking, and teaching

These are all topics that I’m interested in and skills that I myself work at improving - not a coincidence.

One last note: do my mentors from afar replace my local mentors? Absolutely not.

Mentorship from afar is a one way street. Local mentorship is a two way street complete with the direct feedback that we often need.

So, this isn’t a call to replace your local mentors.

It’s a call to be intentional about who is influencing your life from afar.

Can’t get enough on the topic of mentorship? Here’s a piece I wrote last year on the origins of mentorship.

What I’m Paying Attention To:

Obituary for a Quiet Life

Thanks for reading

Who are your mentors from afar?

Reply and let me know,

Josh

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