I started out in real estate when I was 22 yrs old. I remember my perspective when I got into the business: I thought I already knew everything there was to know! I was going to create a new and exciting way to sell real estate… every week.
The first few years were exhausting and although I did well, it was mostly because I had a solid work ethic.
Very few of my creative ideas took off like I thought they would.
While I saw some growth it also became clear that I was hitting a ceiling and I needed to rethink my strategy.
Up till that point I was leading with creativity and had very few sources of information.
❓ How was I going to create more leads for business?
❓ What was the ultimate structure of my business going to look like?
❓ How should I attract, hire and compensate my team?
I knew I had questions I didn’t have the answers to, so I decided that I was going to start attending courses and training.
Taking a 180 degree turn, I switched from figuring it out on my own to opening myself up to what others had to say. I couldn't believe what I'd been missing.
What happened next was the cool part.
My business BLEW up. Literally for a period of about 4 years the business grew by $250-400K each year. With this came new opportunities to learn and surround myself with amazing entrepreneurs. I was welcomed into an elite mastermind led by Gary Keller, the founder of Keller Williams. I started networking with other top agents and realized that I was surrounded by opportunities for mentorship.
Opening myself up to mentorships, seeking out guides and bringing coaches into my life has completely changed my life. It’s part of why I created Endgame Coaching. I believe everyone's life can be significantly improved by finding someone to support them in reaching their goals.
My goal in this article is to give you a practical approach to finding and partnering with the right leadership you need in your life.
What kinds of mentors are there?
Different people have different needs and different mentors will have different skillsets. Understanding what you need in your business and life and using that as a lens to find the right leadership is huge.
➡️ Do you need someone to hold you accountable?
➡️ Are you already disciplined and you need support on planning and structure?
➡️ Are you figuring things out and looking for someone to show you the way?
My experience with mentors, and coaches, is that most of them fall into a few primary categories
A mentor who is great at coaching and helping you with personal accountabilities
Someone who has been there and done it and can show you the way
Those with ulterior motives and the unqualified
Do you struggle to get started every morning? Having someone hold you to your commitments is the single most important thing you can do to move your results forward.
Already disciplined in living up to your commitments? The missing piece is often a guide, or personal leader, who can help you fort out the challenges or piece together what you need to do to grow.
The unqualified and those with ulterior motives aren’t always obvious to spot. Verify their track record and learn what they hope to gain from the relationship. There is nothing wrong with this being a win win.
Where to find mentorship
1. Free sounds good right?
Mentorship is something that can often be found for free through associations. Your office, your peers or the leadership where you are building your business will often have connections for you. Ask and search for it! Some of the most successful people in your field might be pleased to offer you advice, it gives them the opportunity to see someone new avoid the pitfalls they encountered. If you ask for advice, follow up and show them you took it! You never know where these relationships will go over time.
2. Don’t be afraid to Pay
Don’t be afraid to invest in mentorship! Hiring someone puts accountability on them as well. While it can seem expensive for the amount of time you get with them, it’s an amazing investment. The majority of my professional growth has come to me in the form of personal coaching which I’ve invested in considerably. Many people will invest tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on a college degree which doesn’t guarantee a job. If you are trying to build a business which could generate millions in profits, it’s a no brainer. Bring in the big guns and have a guide coach you towards success.
3. Travel and Connect
Mentorship isn’t limited to your backyard. Often the highest level learning opportunities are going to be outside of your city or town. Top business owners know it’s worth a trip to connect and learn from the best in the business. If you find an opportunity, take the leap!
There isn’t a “single formula” on the timing and delivery
You might only meet your mentor once per year, or less. It could be a retreat you partake in twice annually, or a monthly (or weekly) meet up. It can be in person or on the phone. It can be solo or in small groups. Some of my most significant learning experiences have been in a room with a few hundred other people. It’s about what you walk away with, not the “How” of the delivery.
Set goals and plan for your personal growth
Like anything, you’ll go further with this if you are purposeful. Challenge yourself to look at the journey ahead of yourself and consider where you want to be in 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years. How old will your kids be in a decade? What do you want to spend your time doing at that point? Where do you need to be financially? How about your health, spirituality and personal growth outside of business? Nobody said this had to be exclusively about money.
Create goals for who you want to have around yourself and you’ll find people start to show up. Here are some categories you can use to stoke thought:
Health and wellness
Spirituality
Wealth
Business/career
Work life balance
Parenting/family/relationships
Adventure and exploration
Don’t overdo it and take time establishing that those around you are the right people. Start small. Courses and books are a great jumping off point. You can get more personalized support once you have the fundamentals in place.
More than anything, have fun with it and keep looking forward.
S
P.S. If you're ready to take your business to new heights and experience the transformative power of coaching, email me at sean@endgamecoaching.com
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