The Best Gifts to Show Your Mentor How Much They Mean

Mentors give us gifts all year long. Football coaches give us the gift of love for the game, Big Brothers and Big Sisters give us the gift of friendship, while business mentors give us the gift of future success. And they all give us the gift of personal knowledge and growth, which is invaluable in and of itself. The gifts mentors give us are some of the most precious gifts we will ever receive—because they are selflessly given with respect, love and care.

Something to Show What You’ve Learned

There’s no greater reward than seeing someone you’re helping make progress. If your progressive skills are something that can be seen, record a ‘thank you’ video dedicated to your mentor. If they’re something less physically tangible, take what you’ve learned and apply it to your gift.

Something to Help them Grow

Herb gardens are a great gift because they are easy to maintain and brighten any dish. Consider planting a variety of herbs in small pots or small sacks and attaching fun markers that are sure to bring a smile to your mentor’s face. “Thank you for your Thyme,” “Thank you for your Commit-mint” or “Thank you for your Sage advice” will get you started. Be creative and you’ll have fun giving this symbolic, living gift that nicely parallels the growth your mentor has supported in you.

Something with a Meaningful Message

Giving a sentimental gift is great, but if your coach or mentor helps a lot of people, they may grow tired of necklaces with soccer charms or best teacher ever awards. Give the best of both worlds with a piece of jewelry that holds a hidden message inside. When they wear it, everyone will simply notice how stylish they are, but every time they put it on and take it off they’ll be reminded of your warm words. There are tons of options available online, but here’s one of our favorites.

Something to Help Someone Else

Almost every time someone chooses to become a mentor, it’s because they see the benefit in helping others develop, prosper and find happiness from within. With that in mind, there’s likely no greater gift you could give your mentor than the gift of paying it forward. We all have our personal strengths that we can use to help others. Are you an above-average writer? Create a plan to outline how you will help struggling people who are out of work find jobs by helping them fix up their resumes. Are you good with your hands? Host a workshop teaching others carpentry basics. Present this plan to your mentor as a gift, and don’t forget to include the inspiration behind it.

Something to Make Their Everyday Life a Little Easier

On average, mentors are pretty busy people. From getting to know yours, are there any stressors in their life you could help alleviate? If they rarely have time to sit down for a homecooked meal, consider signing them up for a subscription box food delivery. If they’re always on the run, maybe they’d enjoy a spa day, complete with mani-pedis, massages and fluffy robes, to slow down and relax. Are they looking for ways to get the word out and market themselves as a mentor? Give them the gift of GetAssist by purchasing a business membership and teaching them how easy it is to use.