17 Seconds #44
Over the weekend, while my stepson Freddy and I were watching sports, he asked me, “How do you spell ‘position’?” My instinct was not to give him a fish but to teach him how to fish. I replied, “How do you think it is spelled?”
“P?”
“Yes.”
“A?”
“No.”
“O?”
“Yes.”
“S?”
“Yes.”
“I?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Autocorrect did the rest,” said Freddy.
OK, so not a perfect lesson, but you get the point!
Over the years, I have been the beneficiary of mentors who taught me how to think. They pulled me to the answers without giving me the answers. They also pushed me to be the best version of me that I could be. Many of my mentors have been teachers, but not all. Some have been teachers, yet I never took a single class from them. All of them share a willingness to give for the benefit of others. Here are some of my mentors:
- Cottage Farms School, Cape Elizabeth, Maine (1st-4th grades)
- Eleanor Carter (1st-2nd grade)
- J. Clayton Schroeder & Anne-Mayre Schroeder (3rd-4th grade)
- Cape Elizabeth Middle School (5th-8th grades)
- Susan Rovzar (5th-6th grade)
- Mr. Farrally-Plourde (sp) (5th-6th grade)
- Martin “Marty” Watts (7th grade math)
- Donald Curry (5th-8th grade band)
- Cape Elizabeth High School (9th-12th grades)
- Fred Hilse (9th-12th grade band & chorus)
- Richard Mullen (10th-12th grade drama & speech, 11th grade English)
- Albert Sibson (11th-12th grade Latin)
- Donald Richards (12th grade calculus)
- Dorothy Lavada (French teacher; I mowed her lawn in high school)
- Audrey White Beyer (retired English teacher; I mowed her lawn in high school)
- College and Beyond
- MIT Prof. Frank Morgan (18.001, 18.003)
- MIT Prof. Gerald Jay Sussman (6.001)
- MIT Prof. Woodie C. Flowers (2.70, thesis)
- Ken Szajda (MIT ’87)
- Peter Schmidt (MIT ’88)
- David Kaffine (MIT ’88)
- Charles Anthony “Chuck” Cheatham (AKA “Ghost Cheatham“) and The Regulators (USAF, Reese AFB, 89-08)
- Dr. Thomas L. Bohan (MTC Forensics, Thomas L. Bohan & Assoc.)
- Prof. David D. Gregory (Maine Law)
- James “Buddy” Cunningham (Verio)
Because my last name comes before Dave Kaffine’s in the alphabet, I received my MIT diploma before he did, but I waited to flip my tassel and ring until he did. I would not have graduated from MIT without the help of many classmates, including especially Ken, Peter, and Dave.
Last, but not least, on my list of mentors is my family, especially my brother Mark George Heels (without whom I would not have co-built that huge igloo and perfect treehouse); my parents, Thomas Ray Heels and Helena Elizabet Heels, who continue to teach me to this day; my children and stepchildren; my extended family; and my wife, Rebecca Cazabon, my love and my partner in this crazy journey called life.
As Clocktower Law enters its 18th year and as GiantPeople enters its 20th year, I have a renewed appreciation for – and focus on – mentors, mentees, and mentoring. Here are a some of my favorite articles on mentoring:
- “* Friends of the Firm,” ClocktowerLaw.com, Clocktower Law, January 2018.
- “* Treehouse Lunches,” ClocktowerLaw.com, Clocktower Law, November 2017.
- “* 17 Seconds #33 – Hire my brother Mark Heels (and I will owe you a favor),” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, February 2017.
- “* Change Your Thinking,” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, November 2016.
- “* How To Build A Startup: One Board At A Time, Be Yourself, Get Plants,” ClocktowerLaw.com, Clocktower Law, June 2016.
- “* Richard Mullen (AKA Mr. Mullen), Cape Elizabeth High School (CEHS) Teacher Extraordinaire,” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, June 2015.
- “* Thomas L. Bohan, Ph.D., JD,” ClocktowerLaw.com, Clocktower Law, January 2011.
- “* Professor David D. Gregory,” ClocktowerLaw.com, Clocktower Law, January 2011.
- “* Thomas R. Heels And Helena E. Heels,” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, May 2010.
- “* Nine Principles Of Baseball And Life,” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, May 2007.
- “* A Smattering Of Things That I’ve Learned In Life,” GiantPeople.com, GiantPeople, December 2005.
After I became an adult but before I had children of my own, I used to wonder why my parents continued to worry about their adult children. Then I had adult children of my own, and I figured it out. My parents have always been complimentary about my role as a parent. I have always replied that I had two excellent examples who worked together as a team. So in my role as a parent, I pay it forward by being a mentor to the next generation of children and parents. And in my role as a businessperson, I pay it forward by being a mentor to the next generation of entrepreneurs and startups. My giving back, mentoring, and volunteering takes several forms these days (see my LinkedIn profile for details), including Treehouse Lunches, which launched earlier today. Thanks for your support, and pay it forward!
[EDITOR’S NOTE: In the summer of 2025, Clocktower Intern Mark Magyar used artificial intelligence (AI) software to shorten over 100 Clocktower articles by 17%. The shortened articles are included as comments to the original ones. And 17 is the most random number (https://www.giantpeople.com/4497.html) (https://www.clocktowerlaw.com/5919.html).]
* Mentors, Mentees, And Mentoring: What Parenting And Startups Have In Common
17 Seconds #44
In winter 2017-2018, an epic ice hockey rink took shape in a once-wooded Acton, MA, backyard. Built by me, my neighbor Joe Ciampa, my wife Rebecca, and our kids Sam and Sonja.
One weekend while watching sports, my stepson Freddy asked, “How do you spell ‘position’?” Rather than just give the answer, I prompted him step by step: “P? Yes. A? No. O? Yes…” Eventually autocorrect finished the job. Not perfect, but you get the point.
Over the years, I’ve benefited from mentors who taught me how to think rather than handing me answers. They pulled and pushed me to be better. Many were teachers, some not. What they shared was a willingness to give. A few highlights:
Early years (Cape Elizabeth, ME): Eleanor Carter, J. Clayton & Anne-Mayre Schroeder, Susan Rovzar, Mr. Farrally-Plourde, Marty Watts, Donald Curry.
High school: Fred Hilse, Richard Mullen, Albert Sibson, Donald Richards, Dorothy Lavada, Audrey White Beyer.
College and beyond: MIT professors Frank Morgan, Gerald Sussman, Woodie Flowers, and classmates Ken Szajda, Peter Schmidt, Dave Kaffine. Later: Chuck Cheatham (USAF), Dr. Thomas Bohan, Prof. David Gregory, Buddy Cunningham.
I even delayed flipping my MIT tassel until Dave Kaffine did—proof I wouldn’t have graduated without friends’ help.
My family are my lifelong mentors too: my brother Mark (treehouse co-builder), my parents Thomas and Helena, my children and stepchildren, my extended family, and my wife Rebecca, my partner in everything.
As Clocktower enters year 18 and GiantPeople year 20, I’m refocused on mentoring. Some favorite related posts:
Friends of the Firm (2018)
Treehouse Lunches (2017)
Hire my brother Mark Heels (2017)
Change Your Thinking (2016)
How To Build A Startup: One Board At A Time (2016)
Richard Mullen, CEHS Teacher Extraordinaire (2015)
Thomas L. Bohan, Ph.D., JD (2011)
Professor David D. Gregory (2011)
Thomas R. Heels And Helena E. Heels (2010)
Nine Principles Of Baseball And Life (2007)
A Smattering Of Things That I’ve Learned (2005)
As a parent, I now see why mine always worried about me: it never stops. They modeled teamwork, and I try to do the same—mentoring both the next generation of children and of entrepreneurs. My giving back takes many forms—coaching, volunteering, mentoring startups, and Treehouse Lunches, launched today. Thanks for your support, and pay it forward!