It was 2016 when I had my first job as a salesman in a real estate company. I knew nothing about the real world and how to become an adult. All I knew was how to party and get drunk. One day, I sat beside this man in our office and told him I’d be down to meet some girls if he wanted to join me. That’s when our relationship started. We would then go out after work and meet some women and he would teach me things I didn’t know about the world. I did not doubt his success as he was the consistent top seller in our team, having sold around $10M in sales volume. Imagine the commission he received throughout the years. I told myself, I should associate myself with this guy and learn from him. He is 5 years (then 28) older than me (then 23). Now 31 and 26. He also graduated from the same high school as me so I could really use some perspective from him, I said to myself then.

As the years passed, I’ve come to appreciate what I’ve learned from him. 2 years later (2018), we decided to start a company together and I think this is where I’ve come to a realization. As I get to spend my days with my mentor more frequently, I begin to think I’m going through a path I did not choose.

In a corporate setting, my decisions are always based off what he thinks and I always have no say. He always gets the final word. Even if he’s the CEO and I’m a partner of the firm, I fail to address what must be done. That’s not to say that I doubt his decisions, it’s just that my values don’t align with his in the long run; I fail to address it more so.

In a more social/recreational setting, whenever we casually talk the topic has always been about him. I could sense my energy being drained because it has just become one sided over time. It’s like he is putting a frame where I am his little side kick. We don’t share stories the way we used to, as with any friendship should be like.

For the past 4 years I’ve been under the wing of a man who taught me much about the industry I’m currently in, and likewise share the same interests on Game. However, despite my red pill approach on things, I just fear that if I address these things with my mentor it would be a ticking time bomb.

I’ve read somewhere in a TRP forum (and success stories on other forums) that it is very important to have a mentor, but what if things just turn out to be toxic between mentor and protege?