Er. Suhaib Bakshi
Behind many individuals, there is often someone who guided their early steps, not always visible, not always mentioned, but present, a teacher, a thinker, a mentor who helped them see clearly when things were uncertain. This is how many journeys begin, not with confidence, but with guidance. Mentorship has shaped some of the most influential individuals in history. Socrates guided Plato, who then guided Aristotle. This chain of guidance shaped ideas that still influence the world. In India, Chanakya mentored Chandragupta Maurya, helping him grow into a leader. In science, Marie Curie guided Irène Joliot-Curie. In literature, Ezra Pound helped shape the work of T. S. Eliot. In modern technology, Steve Jobs offered guidance to Mark Zuckerberg during important stages.
These examples show a simple pattern: guidance comes first, action follows, and confidence grows over time. Mentorship does not create success on its own, but it helps people move forward, reduces confusion, and gives direction when it is most needed. This idea is also supported by research from leading psychologists. Albert Bandura, working at Stanford University, showed that confidence, or self-belief, grows through action and experience. People do not become confident and then act; they act, and through that action, confidence develops. This idea has been widely studied in education, psychology, and human development across different countries and contexts.
Research at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge suggests that students and professionals who receive guidance are more likely to take initiative and continue their efforts. Studies in behavioural science show that when people are given clear direction, they are more likely to begin early and stay consistent in their work. At the London School of Economics, research on human capital has highlighted how guidance and networks shape long-term growth. Reports from the OECD show that supportive relationships are linked with better learning outcomes, stronger confidence, and steady development over time.
Work from global research centres such as the Brookings Institution and the RAND Corporation has also highlighted the importance of mentorship in education and workforce development. These studies suggest that people make better decisions, learn more effectively, and stay more engaged when they are guided. Across research, history, and lived experience, the message is clear: people move forward better when they are guided.
Confidence is built through experience. A person takes a step, sees what happens, learns, and continues. Each step reduces doubt, and each step builds belief. Over time, what once felt difficult becomes easier and more natural. Mentorship supports this process at the most important stage, the beginning. Often, the guidance is simple: a short conversation, a clear suggestion, a reminder to begin without overthinking. These small moments make a big difference because they turn hesitation into action, and action builds confidence.
When people begin, they gain clarity, they understand what works and what does not, they improve with time, and their confidence grows not because they were told they could succeed, but because they have started doing the work themselves. Mentorship also helps people stay consistent. Progress does not happen in one moment; it happens slowly, through repeated effort. Guidance helps people stay focused, avoid unnecessary confusion, and continue moving forward with purpose.
Mentorship often comes from more than one person; a teacher may guide, a senior may share experience, and a peer may offer practical advice. Each contributes in a different way, and together they help build clarity and confidence over time. This is how human development works: people learn from others, apply what they learn, and then pass it forward. One person guides, another begins, and progress continues across generations. This is how knowledge grows and how societies move forward.
Mentorship is part of this process; it does not replace effort, but it makes effort more effective. It gives direction, reduces confusion, and helps people move forward with clarity and purpose. In the end, mentorship is about growth; it helps people move from uncertainty to action and from action to confidence. It helps them begin, and that beginning changes everything.
One step leads to another, clarity improves, confidence builds, progress becomes visible. This is how people grow, this is how human progress continues. Because behind every confident person, there was once a moment of uncertainty, and often, someone who helped them move forward. And often, all it takes is a simple direction: start here.
(Er. Suhaib Bakshi writes on human development and progress. He can be reached at bakshisuhaib094@gmail.com