Your friends will think you're an idiot if you drop this reference and have no clue who Ulysses was. Parents, brothers and sisters, friends, teachers and coaches have all taught us something, either by sitting down and explaining it or by setting an example we can follow. Some of them were awful, but maybe it's time to put your bitterness aside.
Mentors are important in the workplace, too.
Someone who has been on the job for 20 years, or even five, can teach us a lot about what needs to be done and how to do it. So finding the right mentor or mentors help us avoid stupid mistakes, learn the skills we need more quickly, or deal with co-workers without making them wish you were still flipping burgers for a living. Many businesses have created their own internal mentor programs. Even though they may not mention it, they may have one. And if they don't, you may plant the seed that this is something they should look into, especially if the best job applicants begin opting for companies that do.