Everyone Needs a Mentor/Coach

Whether you're a graphic designer, a singer, an athlete, a teacher, or a stay-at-home mom, I believe everyone needs a mentor or a coach.

Now when I say 'mentor', I don't mean someone to do the hard work for you or someone that tells you what to do and when. I mean someone who can help you find your own way to success. Someone that allows you to develop and hone the skills you were born with because a lot of the time we can't see what we're doing wrong until someone can observe us with knowledge and say 'what would happen if you did it this way?'

My recent experience has taught me that to become great at what you do and be successful at it, you need a little help; Someone to follow, to look up to, and to teach you the ins-and-outs of the industry. Then again, you can learn for yourself but why make things harder for yourself than it needs to be?

Up until last year, I never even thought I needed anyone to help me. I could do it all my own, that way no one can take credit for my success but me. (My wiser-self looks back now and says "ok, if you think so".)

Of course since I never thought I needed one I never sought one and things were quite the struggle for me. I couldn't see what I was doing wrong or right! I also thought that getting a mentor meant that it would be a failure of sorts but came to find out, it was the exact opposite.

Thankfully two of them found me through interesting circumstances and now I couldn't imagine going without them, knowing how much they can benefit my life and career. Not only do they act as a great support system and motivators, they are knowledgeable and are graciously passing on that knowledge so I can learn. What a gift!

Now to prove this mentor thing isn't just a load of crap, let's take a look at the evidence of all the "great ones" and their mentors.

50cent = Eminem
Tiger Woods = Earl Woods/Hank Haney
Britney Spears = Madonna
Wayne Gretzky = Walter Gretzky

... to name a few.

The bottom line is there are some things we just can't do on our own even though we would like to. Sometimes you have to swallow that pride so you can open up and learn what you need to learn in order to grow and be successful.