Who Do You Listen To?
Who Am I Listening To?
This should be the FIRST question you ask yourself when starting any new sort of venture – especially a business.
Why Does It Have To Be The First Question?
Because if you don’t ask it you will likely listen to one or both of the following dangerous people who will keep you “stuck” and discouraged:
Good Salespeople. These people will gladly sell you information about “success” and “techniques” that they do not use themselves and make their money not by applying what they are teaching, but by simply selling products to others.
But an even more dangerous person to listen to initially is…
Yourself
On the surface this makes no sense. After all you are the one who is not satisfied with certain aspects of your life and are seeking education to change things. The problem is that once the time comes to consistently start to make changes in your life and your thinking, you will most likely find a reason NOT to do anything – which often falls into one of three excuse categories:
- lack of time
- lack of money
- lack of resources/knowledge
By focusing on what you think you don’t have (lack) – you will get more of the same that you have always gotten.
Why Is Having A Mentor / Coach Vital To My Success?
Having a mentor is a complement to the training you chose to receive that dramatically speeds up your learning curve. The training, seminars, and workshops that you attend are primarily about functional things – the “How To” stuff (research, analysis, presentations, understanding financials).
Mentoring is much more about getting coaching from a person who is where you want to be or has developed the skills that you want to have. It’s much more about the qualitative and subjective parts of your path – dealing with frustration, giving constructive criticism, handling disappointment, behaving with humility and compassion, etc.
However, the most important reason to consistently work with a Mentor / Coach can be summed up in one word…
BELIEF
A Mentor / Coach often believes in you BEFORE you believe in yourself.
It is often your Mentor / Coach’s belief in you that will help you learn to sustain in your efforts and begin to believe in yourself. That is the PRIMARY role of a Mentor / Coach – not teaching techniques or tactics but believing in you when, from your perspective, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to do so.
What Should I Look For In A Mentor / Coach?
Experience – A Mentor / Coach who has been in the trenches and in your shoes tends to come at things from a place of greater perspective.
Integrity – A Mentor / Coach who can and will be brutally honest with you. Find someone who challenges you – who pushes you to grow and insists that you do things again and again and again until you have gained mastery.
Relationship – Listen to your Mentor / Coach’s advice – even if you may not understand it at first. Build a relationship of trust and openness. Listen to what they have to say and be open to suggestions – even constructive criticism.
