Lifting Them Up: The Magic of Mentoring with Bert Thornton, former Waffle House president and COO

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw

Is there a secret to success? Absolutely. And it's probably not what you may think.

Bert Thornton spent 40 years shaping careers (including his own) as Waffle House grew from a few restaurants in the American south to become a pillar of communities around the country. As president and chief operations officer, he believed that the growth of the company relied upon the development of its people. Building leadership skills throughout an organization is both an obligation and an opportunity. Now, there’s a gap between emerging leaders and those who can help guide them along the way. Mentoring can help bridge that gap…and, when done well, it can transform lives and organizations.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Bert shares why mentoring can matter so much, the elements of an effective mentor/mentee relationship, and how to get started. He also covers how to foster creativity within systems…in a way that led to a product that Waffle House sells 11 million times a year.

Bert is author of Find An Old Gorilla: Pathways Through the Jungle of Business and Life. The book is an essential guide for rising high achievers. He collaborated with Dr. Sherry Hartnett to write High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People’s Lives. Available here: https://highimpactmentoringbook.com/

Bert currently serves as vice chairman emeritus of Waffle House, the largest full-service, 24-hour, sit-down restaurant in the world. He has served on the boards of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the Georgia Tech Foundation, the Studer Community Institute, and the Museum School of Avondale Estates. He was a college football player at Georgia Tech and served in the US Army.

• “Ships don’t drift into port. And good people don’t drift into important positions. Both require guidance and support.”
• “See my friends, see my future. One of the most common questions I’m asked is this: is there one thing to do, a silver bullet for success? The answer is yes, surround yourself with successful people. The most important thing, though, the gold bullet for success, is to find a good mentor.”
• “My happiest friends aren’t the ones who play the most golf. They’re the ones who live a life of gratitude and reciprocation. Appreciating what they have and committed to helping others get to where they want to go.”
• “Two kinds of people in the world: a sink and a source. A sink absorbs energy and brings things down. A source radiates energy and brings people up.”

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com

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