I know this means a kind of formal thing to a lot of people, but that was never present in my life. I can say, though, that there is tremendous power in modeling useful behavior that help people succeed in whatever domain; and that people often appreciate even a little attention of that kind, and it doesn't matter what the domain is or how humble it is. "You want me to show you a trick that makes getting to those top shelves easier?" will generally be met with gratitude.

People are, in my experience, hungry for leadership to a degree that would have been unfathomable to me when I was younger. I suppose it's like scurvy -- when you're dying from the lack of something, you develop a keen appetite for even trace amounts.

🕊️ This was my 1st amazing Mentor who came also like a Brother & Father figure to me! Unfortunately, he is no longer with us 😥

Obituary 😇

Douglas Deneve, 62, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away July 6, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born in Columbia City, Indiana, on November 30, 1958 to Richard and Imogene “Dorene” (Eltzroth) Deneve.

After graduating from Manchester High School in 1977, Doug began making a path of his own. Always a deeply religious person, he prided himself on spreading the word of the Lord. He traveled to various churches across the United States preaching and talking to people about God and His love. Doug could always be found with his big, black Holy Bible in hand spreading kindness and love.

Doug built a life in Nashville, Tennessee. He founded and was the CEO and President of whenmagazine.com. He also spent time helping people make it in the music industry in Nashville, providing them with encouragement and direction.

The loving memory of Douglas Deneve will be forever cherished by his father and mother, Richard and Dorene Deneve, North Manchester, Indiana; sister, Diane Bishop, North Manchester, Indiana; nieces, Dawn and Cheyenne Bishop; great-nephews, Dominic and Kyler Morris; and the many friends he made during his life.

Family and friends may call Friday, July 9, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana. Funeral services will begin Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with calling beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Congregational Christian Church, 310 North Walnut Street, North Manchester, Indiana. Pastors Sebrena Cline, J.P. Freeman, and Russell Reahard will officiate. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, 600 Beckley Street, North Manchester, Indiana.

The family of Douglas Deneve has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.

🤍💖This is the MESSAGE I wrote on his online Tribute Wall:

I will always remember you Brother. I'm so sorry for my attitude while working with you on When Magazine. God blessed me with an amazing opportunity with you; most cherished to be your close Brother in Christ and you my MENTOR! You taught me so much Brother! I'm saddened to hear about your passing! I wish we could have spoke one more time before you left for Glory, but I know now I will see you again in Heaven one day! You taught me so much! I could never thank you enough! I'm running Eternal Affairs Media (a name you gave) for 12 years now! Thank you for the business opportunity but most importantly the personal opportunity to know you! You were always so kind,

humble and patient with me, teaching me so much even when I hadn't grown up yet, still had 1-foot in the world, and had a cocky, arrogant attitude! I pray you'll forgive me and God forgives me too! To your family, Mr. and Mrs. Deneve, may God richly bless you! Your son touched so many live including mine! He will live on forever in my memory and the media ministry I currently run!

Ideally, I think it's like a master training you up to become a master yourself. I found the best treatment of this in Mastery. It's rarely an explicit thing these days and I think we're all worse off for it.

Few people are patient or humble enough to go through an apprenticeship phase and most jump to living their fantasy of being a master (assisted by all the internet's unverifiable broadcast mechanisms). They mostly end up slowing their rise to mastery, or preventing it entirely, because they don't want to live through a period where they are explicitly less-than.

I think I had a mentor at my first and only post-college job. He was more of a role model than anything. We'd chat once a week as I tend to be pretty hands-free, but occasionally we'd pair up if I was stuck on something obscure to me.

He was a true master and led the company's core networking protocol after leaving bittorrent. I really lucked out getting hired there as a reentry college student. The company was very keen on process minimalism, was founded and run by engineers, and prioritized dev talent. They eventually left me to my own devices and kept paying me more and giving me new responsibilities.

My other internship offer was at a now dead web startup and the hiring manager was a dick.

Before that, my high school math teacher was the best role model that I had. He was super contrarian and "saved me" from learning nothing in high school.

How do you define mentorship? If you possess the knowledge, help those that are interested in acquiring it. I also think it is something that, as the possessor of a specific knowledge, that you should be actively looking for opportunities to be a mentor to others.

Have you ever had a mentor? I don't remember if I ever had someone who was explicitly considered a mentor, but in retrospect, I've had a handful of excellent "accidental" mentors.

I have had informal mentors a couple times. First in my corporate career and then running my own business.

Just older guys that I could lean on for advice. Nothing formal about it.

and...have you ever been a mentor?