CONFESSION: I had a personal (and professional) crisis for at least 6 years.

For much of my life, I always had at least one mentor who helped to develop and guide me. Interestingly, it began in elementary school. I just think God had a way of connecting me with people that would help me get closer to who I needed to become.

These people (men and women) were invaluable, but I reached a point where I didn’t have a mentor. Those 6 years were unfamiliar territory for me and if I’m honest…I HATED IT! At first, I thought it felt like having training wheels removed from my bike. Actually, I’m not even sure that I had a bike during those times. At some point I gave up on having a coach, IT WAS AWFUL and it became my secret crisis!

Gratefully, I now have a coach that somehow even checks all the boxes outside of business operations as well.

As we start out in our careers and adulthood, it is usually pretty easy to identify someone that we want to pattern ourselves after, or someone that can guide us in the right direction. That person can be anyone: a colleague, a manager, a mentor, a teacher… As we begin to excel and find ourselves evolving into higher leadership positions the options for guides become slim.

This doesn’t mean that you give up on having someone (like I did). It means you figure out your needs and then find someone that aligns with what is important to you. And yes, in 2023 that also means you may have to pay for it. When I was starting out, I didn’t have the means to pay but now I do and now it is more critical than ever. As you grow, the price of success moves from free to necessary.

If you lead a team of other leaders, you may not have the time or the ability to mentor them. Instead of trying to bear this burden you can invest in a leadership coach to provide the professional development, support, and implementation strategies that move your team toward greater success.

Winning isn’t a burden you should carry alone, you need help and help is available.