Practice Makes Perfect: Part 8 of How to Master Mentoring

“Practice Makes Perfect” is the subject of podcast episode #56 by “The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday,” which is the eighth episode in the “How to Master Mentoring” mini-series. 

In the How to Master Mentoring mini-series, each episode starts with a story of how a mentor taught me a valuable lesson and continues with one of the individuals I mentored in life and another in my side hustle business. 

I hope that sharing my experiences of how practice makes perfect in this podcast episode of the How to master mentoring mini-series inspires you to practice your skills in your life and in your business.  This is even more important in a side hustle because you need to make the most of your limited time!

I’m Rabbi Dave, and most weeks, we explore the challenges and triumphs of achieving business success while living a #dreamlife. I hope you enjoy “Practice Makes Perfect!”

How to Master Mentoring Story #22: Practice Makes Perfect

After studying in Yeshiva (Jewish Institute of Higher Learning) Kerem B’Yavneh, I returned home to Baltimore to study at Ner Israel Rabbinical College and was excited to attend the lectures of a particular Rabbi. As soon as I became interested in Jewish learning, I was introduced to a class that was given every Thursday night by a Rabbi teaching in Ner Israel – Rabbi Yissocher Frand.  His Thursday night classes were a work of art.  I felt they were perfection in information, inspiration, and entertainment.  I continued to listen to recordings of the class each week while in Kerem B’Yavneh, and now that I was in Rabbi Frand’s school, I wanted to attend his daily lectures there.  I was disappointed when I was told that no one started in that class during their first year, but if I did well in my first year, I could apply for his lecture in my second year.

So, I did apply and began my second year in his class.  There was only one problem: the semester started on a Sunday, and at the last minute, my summer employer told me I had to drive the van from California to Toronto, or I would not get paid. There was no way to leave California Saturday night and get to Baltimore any time on Sunday. I called Rabbi Frand, and he gave me a one-day extension and said to show up on Monday or don’t bother coming at all.  

My partner in the drive was not in a rush and agreed that he would drive from Cleveland to Toronto himself if I would make the entire drive from California to the airport in Cleveland.  Well, thanks to no doze, I made the drive, hopped on the plane from Cleveland to Baltimore, and promptly fell asleep.  When we arrived in Baltimore, the airline staff could not wake me up, so they let my mom on the plane, who succeeded (the laws were looser in those days).  I arrived late on Monday to Ner Israel, and Rabbi Frand took a long look at me and said congratulations, you made it!  Now go home, go to sleep, and come back first thing tomorrow morning.  That was the beginning of my four years of studying in his class every day.

We became very close, and he helped me with everything in my life. I still consider him one of the two primary mentors in my life, along with Rabbi Lowenbraun. 

I’ll never forget when I went to class on Wednesday, and he gave us the lecture that he would give in public on Thursday night.  He also gave a practice session with some local Yeshiva alumni on Wednesday night.  That perfection I experienced so many years before and wanted to emulate came from years of his tutelage from Rabbi Kalefsky (the first-year Rabbi in Ner Israel and later the Rosh Yeshiva), hours of preparation, and then two live practice sessions.  His shiurim (lectures) were a work of art at each stage, but “practice makes perfect.”

It is important to note a teaching of Rabbi Frand’s on the concept of perfection.  He taught that perfect is the enemy of good. Many people are hesitant to take important actions because they are afraid of not doing the action perfectly.  One should never let this fear stop them from reaching for greatness.  True greatness is only achieved one small step at a time. Even if they will never be perfect they can still strive their best and practice will lead them closer and closer to perfection.

Even after I finished the four-year cycle of his class and moved to another class, he still had me in mind.  One time, he came over to me with a tape in hand and gave me a copy of that year’s big pre-new year lecture and said this one’s for you (it was on the topic of accomplishing our life purpose, and I still remember every detail).  Later on, he wrote a book entitled Listen to Your Messages, and the lead story was very personal to me even though Rabbi Frand mentioned no names!

He advised me in dating and performed my wedding.  When I started my career as a Rabbi and another alumnus of our Yeshiva went to him to complain about my methods, he asked a simple question – Is what Rabbi Felsenthal is doing good for the Jewish People?  Then either help him or leave him alone!

His Jewish teachings still inspire me today whenever I hear them, and I am proud to call him my Rebbe Muvhak (closest personal teacher), as practice makes perfect.

How to Master Mentoring Story #23: Practice Makes Perfect as a mentee

When I moved back to New Jersey from Columbus, Ohio, I had three foci in my work for the OU (Orthodox Union). Recruitment Director for New Jersey NCSY, Birthright Israel Director for the OU, and Collegiate Director for the OU. 

There was a new college program in the OU that would soon be called JLIC, and I had started an Alumni College program for them called ASAP.  Their idea was to combine the two and make me the overall director, and it was in my contract and announced to all the staff of JLIC. However, they had never agreed to it, and all ignored the arrangement except for one JLIC Rabbi in North Jersey Alter K. (Ironically – G-d has a great sense of humor – I did end up supervising the actual Director of JLIC many years later, and we were a great team together!)

Alter had no experience and no real idea of how to engage Jewish students on the various small campuses in Northern New Jersey.  However, he did have a strong desire, was extremely coachable, and practiced until he became great!

Today, he directs his own programs in Israel and has mentored hundreds himself!

How to Master Mentoring Story #24: Practice Makes Perfect in business

While I was living in Columbus, Ohio, one of the Synagogues I worked with hired a new assistant Rabbi who soon became a very close friend, Jeremy L. After a couple of years, Jeremy approached me about helping him succeed with my side business.  Whenever it came to making phone calls, he would break into a sweat and become paralyzed (yes, people used to make phone calls with a phone before it became a social media tool).  I helped him realize what was causing this reaction.  The fear was False Evidence Appearing Real, and we used several techniques to overcome it, such as smiling when calling, imagining the outcome ahead of time, and learning that the word no wasn’t personal, etc.  We practiced and practiced, and he actually created an excellent side business for his family. This was a great example of Practice Makes Perfect in Business.

Again, practice makes perfect.

How to Master Mentoring Recap and Weekly Podcast Challenge

I hope you enjoyed the eighth episode in the miniseries “The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday Shares Mentorship Mastery.” This week’s challenge is to identify a skill that you need to learn or improve and find out what actions you need to practice to become perfect.  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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