--- title: Pay It Forward, Mentor description: Pay it forward, mentor image: https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/28_MDA2LmpwZw.jpg --- [![Mainspring, Inc.](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/MainSpring_June2024/Images/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation-qjudg0lgsu8o3zserelwpic5pgl0i7mbxusowrykj8.png)](https://gomainspring.com/) [mailto:hello@gomainspring.com](mailto:hello@gomainspring.com) - [About](https://gomainspring.com/about/) - [Our Team](https://gomainspring.com/our-team/) - [Industries](https://gomainspring.com/industries/) - [Partners & Certifications](https://gomainspring.com/partners-certifications/) - [Careers](https://gomainspring.com/careers/) - [Solutions](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/) - [Cybersecurity](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/cybersecurity/) - [ProSuite™](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/prosuite/) - [Automation](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/automation/) - [FileMaker Development](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/filemaker/) - [Apple Device Lifecycle Services](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/apple-services/) - [vCIO](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/vcio/) - [Cost Management](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/cost-management/) - [Support & Help Desk](https://gomainspring.com/solutions/support-help-desk/) - [Case Studies](https://gomainspring.com/case-studies/) - Pricing - [ProSuite™](https://gomainspring.com/pricing/) - [Evolve™](https://gomainspring.com/pricing-evolve/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.gomainspring.com/) - [Media Resources](https://gomainspring.com/media-resources/) - [Downloads](https://info.gomainspring.com/resources) - [News & Events](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news) - [Contact Us](https://gomainspring.com/contact-us/) # Pay It Forward, Mentor ### Subscribe to our blog - [Home](https://gomainspring.com/) - Resources - News & Events Published by [Mike Beargie](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/author/mbeargie) on April 30, 2015 at 11:03 AM ![MainSpring consultants mentor as a way to connect](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/28_MDA2LmpwZw-600x600.jpg?width=600&height=600&name=28_MDA2LmpwZw-600x600.jpg)If you’re new to a profession or wear multiple hats at your company, one of the best ways to learn and improve your skills is to find a mentor. I had several mentors early in my career as a [FileMaker](https://gomainspring.com/topic/filemaker/) application developer and now I’m experiencing the other side of the mentor-protégé relationship. It’s a great way to pay it forward and connect. At MainSpring, I’ve had the pleasure of spending time mentoring quite a few developers while working on a wide variety of projects. Mentoring not only creates a trusting relationship between professionals, but career-wise it’s mutually beneficial. While the protégé looks to the mentor for knowledge and guidance, the mentor will often absorb a new perspective, develop a new skillset while experiencing the personal satisfaction of helping others. Here’s a quick look at the different mentoring opportunities we’ve experienced. #### Private mentoring Imagine you're a developer stuck on a problem and you can't figure out where to go next. This was a very real problem for a developer working on an inventory system with a shopping cart feature. I was paired up to mentor this developer, and it's turned into an ongoing mentoring relationship where I give advice and teach, while we both worked toward common goals. It’s been extremely satisfying to work with a professional one-on-one, outside the nuances that exist when you both work for the same company, in the same department or between a boss and subordinate. While working together, protégés learn during the entire building process and have positive results to show for their work once their time is completed. As a certified FileMaker developer, my students can count on me for high-level advice. Sessions are fast-paced and they always get a little bit of homework to complete between sessions to make sure they progress. I’ve been a witness to the rapid growth of developers through private mentoring and am always surprised by how quickly newer developers can start using advanced techniques. #### Mutual mentoring Mentoring is the core of MainSpring teamwork. We are constantly in touch with each other using collaboration tools like [Slack](https://slack.com/) to ask for advice and help with tricky work problems. Since we use team communication, every member of the team benefits from reading the advice that’s given. At the end of the day, our team improves together and we are more productive and knowledgeable as a result. To develop efficient software solutions, the FileMaker community has proven to be a great place to experience mutual mentoring, where all types of interesting problems are solved. #### Community mentoring I take a great deal of personal satisfaction in my experience with community mentoring, especially with my local developer user group, the [Central Ohio FileMaker User Group](http://www.cofmug.com/?page_id=2) (COFMUG). Last year, I was[proud to be recognized](http://filemakeraddict.com/2014/08/mike-beargie/) for my community contributions as well as having the opportunity to mentor an entire room full of developers at the FileMaker developer’s conference (DevCon). I’m looking forward to speaking again this year at [DevCon 2015](http://www.filemaker.com/learning/devcon/2015/index.html)! I always look forward to my mentoring sessions as I’ve experienced firsthand the benefits from creating such lasting relationships. Tags: [Connect](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/connect), [FileMaker](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/filemaker), [Training](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/training), [FileMaker training](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/filemaker-training), [FileMaker DevCon](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/filemaker-devcon), [Make it Count](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/tag/make-it-count) ### About the Author ![Mike Beargie](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/mainspring_mike_beargie_004_CROPPED-913x1200-1-250x250.jpg "Mike Beargie") Mike Beargie has been with MainSpring since 2013 and has over 10 years of application development experience. As a developer, he creates solutions for clients in a wide variety of sectors across the U.S. and abroad. Prior to working at MainSpring, Mike worked as the lead developer for a consulting company, serving high profile political, special interest and nonprofit clients in the Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio, markets. Mike regularly presents solutions and best practices to the FileMaker development community around the country, and is well known as an answer man online as well. In 2014 and 2016, Mike was recognized with the FileMaker Excellence Award for community contributions. Mike is a man of many hobbies, including woodworking, home brewing, art and music. [More Articles by Mike Beargie](https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/author/mbeargie) ### Related Articles ## Getting Started IT services unlock a brighter future for architecture and engineering firms. If you want to talk specifics, we’re ready to have that conversation. [Contact Us](https://gomainspring.com/contact-us/) [![Mainspring, Inc.](https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/MainSpring_June2024/Images/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation.png)](https://gomainspring.com/) [MainSpring, Inc.](https://gomainspring.com/) 8 E. Second Street, Suite 205 Frederick, MD 21701 [301.948.8077](tel:3019488077) [hello@gomainspring.com](mailto:hello@gomainspring.com) © 2026 [MainSpring, Inc.](https://gomainspring.com/) All rights reserved | Designed & Developed by [ONEFIRE](https://onefire.com/) | [Privacy Policy](https://gomainspring.com/privacy-policy/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Mike Beargie", "url" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/author/mbeargie" }, "dateModified" : "2024-05-07T20:16:59.111Z", "datePublished" : "2015-04-30T15:03:21.000Z", "headline" : "Pay It Forward, Mentor", "image" : [ "https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/28_MDA2LmpwZw.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/news/make-it-count/pay-it-forward-mentor", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.gomainspring.com/hubfs/mainspring-logo-cybersecurity-it-services-automation.png" }, "name" : "MainSpring, Inc." } } ```