Fast Track Your Life by Working with Mentors and Coaches
The Biggest mistake I made as a young entrepreneur was to try to do it all and figure it all out on my own. It was my nature, back then, to be something of a rebel. I was competitive, so my rebellious nature served me well, especially in sports. Perseverance, determination and a good measure of toughness allowed me to excel as a young athlete. However, as one of my mentors later observed – for most people, their greatest strength can turn into their biggest weakness. In many ways, that was true for me.
In law school, my colleagues were trying to get the attention of the big law firms and to land a “great job”. I was committed to starting my own firm – which I did immediately upon graduating and passing the bar exam. I was bold and that is a definite asset in business. But at times, I think I had more guts than smarts and my boldness could get me into trouble.
What happened for me is that even with my early mentors, I was brazen and impatient. If I didn’t like what they suggested, I’d storm off and do things my own way. I felt like they just didn’t understand. Before long, I found myself without any mentors. That’s what happens if you think you know it all.
I began to read books and listen to audio programs. I was searching. I knew that something was amiss, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was.
Then one morning it all came together. As I took the long walk from the front door of my office to the mail box it hit me. I stood there on Main Street and looked west. As I did I recalled the earlier conversations with my colleagues about how proud they were for how long and hard they had worked. Then, I looked east and recalled similar conversations I had had with the attorneys whose offices were in that direction.
I had a realization.
If I continued on the path I was on, I’d wind up in the same shape they were in. Older, overworked, tired, spending more time telling war stories than planning an exciting future. And it was in that moment that I vowed to find a better way.
I realized that I needed help. If I continued to do it on my own, I would continue to get the same, now unacceptable, results. I had to find others who had found a better way – one that was perhaps similar to what I had in mind, and ask them for direction.
In short, the remedy was to become coachable.
I spent the next five years re-tooling. I went to every seminar I could and I listened intently to the successful people that spoke at them. And I started to see a pattern. Many of their stories were similar in that they too had coaches and mentors. The lesson I was learning is that no matter how bright or gifted you are there are areas where you can learn more and where you can improve.
The single most important thing you can do is to seek out Mentors and Coaches and follow their advice. I am always working with at least one coach and one mentor.
Put the Pedal to the Metal and Drive Yourself from Zero to Success: Get two FREE Chapters of my new book, which compels you to rev up your engines and shift into high gear.
In law school, my colleagues were trying to get the attention of the big law firms and to land a “great job”. I was committed to starting my own firm – which I did immediately upon graduating and passing the bar exam. I was bold and that is a definite asset in business. But at times, I think I had more guts than smarts and my boldness could get me into trouble.
What happened for me is that even with my early mentors, I was brazen and impatient. If I didn’t like what they suggested, I’d storm off and do things my own way. I felt like they just didn’t understand. Before long, I found myself without any mentors. That’s what happens if you think you know it all.
I began to read books and listen to audio programs. I was searching. I knew that something was amiss, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was.
Then one morning it all came together. As I took the long walk from the front door of my office to the mail box it hit me. I stood there on Main Street and looked west. As I did I recalled the earlier conversations with my colleagues about how proud they were for how long and hard they had worked. Then, I looked east and recalled similar conversations I had had with the attorneys whose offices were in that direction.
I had a realization.
If I continued on the path I was on, I’d wind up in the same shape they were in. Older, overworked, tired, spending more time telling war stories than planning an exciting future. And it was in that moment that I vowed to find a better way.
I realized that I needed help. If I continued to do it on my own, I would continue to get the same, now unacceptable, results. I had to find others who had found a better way – one that was perhaps similar to what I had in mind, and ask them for direction.
In short, the remedy was to become coachable.
I spent the next five years re-tooling. I went to every seminar I could and I listened intently to the successful people that spoke at them. And I started to see a pattern. Many of their stories were similar in that they too had coaches and mentors. The lesson I was learning is that no matter how bright or gifted you are there are areas where you can learn more and where you can improve.
The single most important thing you can do is to seek out Mentors and Coaches and follow their advice. I am always working with at least one coach and one mentor.
Put the Pedal to the Metal and Drive Yourself from Zero to Success: Get two FREE Chapters of my new book, which compels you to rev up your engines and shift into high gear.
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