Nothing like a good poem to liven-up a mentoring group meeting. Here is one good reason why MIT's mentoring program is better than most. Guys like Lou Goldish have a lot of heart.

Ode to VMS Mentors
By L. Goldish

Every month I stand up here reporting,
The new ventures which I’ve just intook.
On the other end there sits Roberta,
Looking stern, so I’ll go by the book.

Just be nice, and describe the new ventures,
Don’t talk long; set a positive tone.
It’s your job to get each venture mentors,
Or you mentor that group on your own.

So please, guys, please raise your hands skyward,
And for that I’ll be thankful a bunch.
You guys really are super mentors,
And that’s why VMS gives you lunch.

As you know, VMS takes all comers,
Every Mahesh, Jin, Nguyen, or Jamie,
No matter what field their idea’s in,
Even if it appears cockamamie.

‘Cause you never know who’ll be successful?
We must help founders learn so much more.
And I know some of us find it stressful,
But come on, guys, that’s what we’re here for.

Yet, you think, “What the heck’s going on here?
Some ideas are just fanciful tours,”
But, remember the words of S. Greenblatt,
“Our job is to build entrepreneurs.”