Who turned you into an artist? Have you made anyone into an artist yourself?

Just after I graduated I asked another, more experienced director (Nona Sheppard - whatever happend to her!) what I had to do to become a director - and she said "Well, just tell people you are one and get on with it."  And that pushed me on from being a (drama) graduate to an arts professional.

- Who helped you move on in your career as an artist (any artform)?
- What difference did it make?
- How would you define your relationship with that person? (characteristics such as as how did you meet, were they an un/official mentor, how important was timing, setting, attitudes, respect etc)
- What didn't they tell you that you wish you had known?

Or maybe you have been important in setting someone else on the right track, again with only a passing comment.

Last night (hence me bringing this subject of mentoring up) I went to see a show in London in which there was a young actor that I directed 4 years ago in a show in Peterborough called HOUSE. 
He was great to work with and very talented, but untrained, and I knew
he could go onto bigger and better things if he went to drama school
for a couple of years and got some technique and credibility under his
belt.  He knew this too, so my nagging him to do so was well timed.  He
has now graduated and is on the up - and he told me last night that it
was me that gave him the final push he needed to take himself seriously
as an actor.

Have you ever been in a position to support another to do what you do?
Why did you do it?
Was it worth it?