Going the Extra Mile: Part 5 of How to Master Mentoring

“Going the Extra Mile” is podcast episode # 52 by The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday. It is the fifth episode in a mini-series titled “How to Master Mentoring.” 

As with the previous episodes in the How to Master Mentoring mini-series, this episode also starts with a story of how an advisor mentored me and continues with two of the individuals I mentored while in New Jersey, and another in my side hustle business, all showing the importance of going the extra mile.

My hope is that sharing my experiences in the “How to Master Mentoring” mini-series, including in this podcast episode, is to demonstrate that quite often, success in life and in any business, such as a side hustle, depends on taking that extra step or going that extra mile.

I’m Rabbi Dave, and every week, we explore the challenges and triumphs of achieving business success while also living a #dreamlife. I hope you enjoy “Going that Extra Mile!”

How to Master Mentoring Story #10: A teacher going the extra mile

In 11th grade, I had firmly decided that I loved the lifestyle of an Orthodox Jew and wanted to raise a family with those values eventually.  I realized that knowing Jewish law and understanding the wisdom that went into their creation would be essential to achieving this goal.

I had yet to learn the wisdom of going the extra mile. However, after some research, I found out that I needed to study the Talmud as that was the Oral tradition passed down in every generation since Moses received it at Mount Sinai, and I made up my mind.

I would learn it.

There was a local Rabbinical School, Ner Israel, with many possible teachers, but I did not yet have a car, and the only bus in my neighborhood was to my public school and back. I faced a 5-mile hike from my home to the Rabbinical school, and my parents gave a firm no to even riding my bike. I had the desire, but it looked like it would be impossible.

I shared my desires with the leaders of my youth group, NCSY, and the next thing I knew, a star student from the Rabbinical school entered my life.

Once per week, B.Z. Scheinfeld would walk the 5 miles to my house to teach me Talmud. By the time we finished, my dad was home, and he would drive him back!

B.Z. was a great teacher—who wouldn’t pay attention to someone who had just walked 5 miles just for you—and also a great athlete.  We played tennis and basketball, and I decided to be just like him when I grew up!

The next year, he switched to a new school in New York, Yeshiva University, but we still saw each other at Sabbath conventions, learned Talmud, and played sports!

After I graduated high school, I ended up at Yeshiva U, where we learned every night for an hour, followed by a pickup basketball game. It worked out perfectly!

The next year, under his influence, I went to a full-time Yeshiva in Israel, and like they say, the rest is history!

We still see each other several times yearly, and B.Z. is an important part of my life—all because he walked that extra mile, which was 5 miles!

As a bonus story, one of my best friends, Yitzy Weiss, also personified going the extra mile and walked many miles with me in Baltimore so I could get to events or even visit a girl I was pursuing, and that started another lifelong friendship. Yitzy was my roommate at Yeshiva U, my study partner, and my constant partner in adventure. He introduced me to my first real side hustle, which didn’t work out but paved the way for my side career and success!

How to master mentoring Story #10: Two students and going the extra mile

I didn’t walk the extra mile in New Jersey, which would have been too far, but I drove the extra mile!

Two stories of students I mentored and drove the extra mile for really stand out.

Dalia B. and several of her friends from a prestigious private school in New Jersey applied to my Latte and Learning program. At Latte and Learning, I would match each high school student with a learning partner who was studying Jewish Subjects in college to learn together. I hired a local Rabbi to speak with them and guide them while I was busy behind the scenes making it all happen.  

Dalia’s parents refused to let their daughter come unless I drove out to their house to meet with them in person. I asked them if they would bring her to the event location like all other parents do, but they were adamant. So, I drove the extra mile to meet with them, and I guess they liked me because the next thing I knew, I was driving their daughter to the event.  

As you might expect, there were delays. By the time we got there, it had started, and every girl’s learning partner had already been assigned. There was no girl with whom to partner Dalia!

One young scholar named Mattes had come for that week only to be an extra, just in case. So, even though I always set up guys to learn with guys and girls to learn with girls, I had to set up Dalia to learn with Mattes for just that week. Mattes never returned, and the next week, I found a girl for Dalia to learn with.

Dalia went on to become a Jewish Scholar. When she started dating, she was reintroduced to Mattes, and they fell in love and Married. They are now teachers on the highest level and a powerful dream team couple!

Rebbeca G. lived in southern central New Jersey in a community where our youth group had no other members. She wanted to come to our events, but her mom was single and had too much on her plate with work and family to drive Rebecca. 

It was too far to walk, and no one could offer her a ride. If I did not pick her up, she would not be able to come. So yes, I drove an extra hour in each direction several times to bring her to events until thank G-d, she found other means of transportation!  

Rebecca became a true leader. She studied with me weekly, joined a chapter 30 minutes away, and eventually became the chapter President. That chapter won Chapter of the Year!  

She was a world-class singer, but she decided to forgo that direction to pursue Jewish studies full-time. Today, she’s a leader of her local community and has a beautiful family of her own to raise!

How to master mentoring Story #11: My side business and going the extra mile

Before the days of cell phones, unlimited calling, and Zoom, I used to hop in my car and drive to appointments. Driving to areas within a 30-minute radius was normal.  An hour if it seemed as if the prospect may be outstanding. Two or more hours, and I would usually pass.  

However, occasionally, I would get this feeling about a prospect who lived even further away and drive several hours to see if I could help them.  One such long-distance prospect was Heather P.

She was a young mother with a “Big Why.”; she needed to succeed and was very interested in working together, but the problem was that she was a long drive away!  

I agreed to drive to her IF she had done all the necessary training, set up everything needed, and invited several prospects to come, too.  

When I set these conditions with long-distance prospects, nine times out of ten, they would call the day of or the day before to say they had no one coming. In other words, they did not make it worth the drive.

When Heather called the night before, I thought I knew what was coming, but she wanted to see if she could have another prospect attend!

Her event was a success; she has been a partner in my side hustle business for almost nine years!  

I’d like to say she has made a fortune, but she is a very happy long-term customer, and that is definitely worth going the extra mile for!

How to Master Mentoring Recap and Weekly Podcast Challenge

I hope you enjoyed the fifth episode in the miniseries “The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday mini-series” How to Master Mentoring.” This week’s challenge is to expand your limits to go that extra mile and make that one more phone call or text. You will be surprised at how much that increases your bottom line.  I always find that one extra effort produces the best results!  Please share your efforts and results, even if small, with me. It is the small efforts that mean a lot!

If you’re looking for a mentor and ready to take your personal growth seriously to see how it can transform your business, I’d love to help you. Visit my website and use the Work With Dave link to set up a free consultation. Let’s unlock your full potential together.

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