You can learn a lot from a mentor, even when you are only 23 years old.
I was privileged to have one early on in my career.
His name was Irving, and he was the VP of Stores at my first retail job in New York. Each day at work, as he observed me, he was basically “measuring” my ability to manage people and drive the business.
Early on in my training, it was clear I had no idea about what was really possible. At the end of each day, Irving would talk with me. Disappointment in myself was generally the reaction I had to many of things he would share with me.
Eventually, as I improved, those conversations morphed into something a little different.
Instead of TALKING to me about how something should or could be done, he’d make a remark or give me some sort of look when I was working with a customer or employee that basically said, “You want to try that again?”
Over time, the responsibility shifted, requiring me to perform to my potential. But I had to figure out how to make that happen.
Irving knew I could do better.
He knew I knew I could do better.
And he knew I knew how to be better.
His reality initially was firmly anchored in a standard far above mine. Everything that passed through his field of view was measured against a much higher standard than mine, and I improved in order to come closer to that higher standard.
This has served me well over the years. It serves anyone who is in a position to help others. This mentoring principle is valuable in the business world. But this is NOT the typical approach used by most professional managers, advisors and coaches.
Most managers, advisors, and coaches show up and ask their subordinate or client, “What would you like to work on today?”
This allows a definition of success and standard of execution to be set by the individual, who is NOT necessarily master of their craft. The power is given to the subordinate or client.
My philosophy, which is based upon the mentoring I received over 30 years ago, comes from a different place. My philosophy is all about helping my clients rise to a level of achievement previously not possible. Maybe even to a level they were not aware existed.
This is the choice you have. Keep “the power” or give it away to someone who can help you be better than you ever imagined.
You can either play small, and continue on the path you are on, or you can play big, and be challenged to say “There must be better ways to do this.”
Do yourself a big favor, and find a mentor, advisor, or coach internally or externally. If you think you are the smartest person in the room, you and your business will eventually hit a brick wall.
One path keeps you and your business “safe” and “average”, the other path achieves great things.
As the saying goes, life is all about choices! Are you satisfied with the choices you have been making to move your business forward? If the answer is NO, what are you going to do about it? While there might be many avenues your can take, at least pick one that will make a difference and impact the results.