When it comes to learning new skills, having easy access to mentors can sometimes work against you.
More...
On the one hand, there are clear advantages to having access to people who can show you how to do something the right way.
In fact, "tacit" skills, those that cannot be documented into neat processes, are often learnt by working under the guidance of a skilled mentor.
On the other hand, there is evidence that learning is effective when it is not easy - when there is struggle involved.
This is linked to the principle of desirable difficulty - learning is deeper and more sticky when you have to put in effort and make mistakes along the way.
Of course, you need to ensure the effort is interesting, and the difficulty makes you stretch but is essentially achievable.
Also, ensure the mistakes are reversible, not fatal or career-limiting, and you actually learn from your mistakes.
Unless you understand the underlying principles, the reasons why certain steps are necessary and how they work, you will not be able to adapt to less than ideal or novel situations (which are a given in the real world of work).
Using mentors to shortcut your learning can be a serious limitation in working independently - the very definition of being skilled.
