This is going to be a long post – but hopefully one that you will find good. Over the past few years, I’ve learned a ton about personal development from some wonderful people in my life. Some of those people know who they are, and some have no idea. Some are close friends, family, etc. and some are people I have never even met. I believe every person should have a mental list of people they “go to” for advice, support, motivation, inspiration, or help - people that you could call your mentors, your go-to person, your Life Coach, someone that holds you responsible for your goals, your A-Team, your personal group of Masterminds. Back in the “old days” many people had a mentor. Young people worked under apprenticeships in many occupations and you learned “trade secrets.” Today, young people don’t understand what that is. You aren’t taught any of this in school, unfortunately. Kids coming out of high school and college this month are thrown to the wolves with hardly anyone to look up to. Without this much needed guidance, many fail. Mentors, or as I like to call them, Life Coaches, are a valuable tool in crafting the life you want, they help you set important short term and long term goals, and are your lifeline when you are drowning. Notice I used a plural when speaking of mentors? I personally like to have at least one person that I can go to for each area of my life. Some areas, I have multiple people. My own Personal Board of Directors – for ME. The word “mentor” is an outdated term. You really need multiple people in multiple areas of expertise. Just like any “Board of Directors,” the people you choose should be able to help you bring your dreams to life. Some people that I like to include (but not limited to) are successful people in business that I look up to, a financial/money guru (having issues creating a budget, taxes, etc?,) a goal keeper (keeping those goals and life plans on track,) someone that just listens to your problems (we all have them – be honest,) motivators and inspiration creators (I have several,) social media expert, and anyone else in any other area of knowledge that you want to bring on. Have as many as you wish. If some of the people you choose are online and you don’t know them personally, follow them on social media and online, follow their blogs, read each and every article they publish, be engaged with their style – you never know when one little sentence jumps out at you and helps you develop your next BIG idea! (Don’t be a stalker though! Haha.) I encourage all of you to share this post OR something similar like this with a young person TODAY. Encourage them to find their own Personal Board of Directors to help guide them through their next years as they approach life head-on. I encourage those of you – no matter your age - that have no one to go to, to find some people either willing to listen or to follow online that will get your creative juices flowing, empower you, and encourage you to believe that your goals can almost always be attained. It’s NEVER too late. It will change your life for the better. If you have expertise in a subject area, are successful, or are the kind of person that just loves to help people and motivate them – reach out and help others that are afraid of asking. If we all did this, this world would be a different place. We can all help each other! Please share and let me know your thoughts, ideas, and personal stories of mentoring/life coaching others! Thanks, Dutch
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:16:49 +0000