<—My coach Alicia Forest and I at our retreat last weekend in NY.
For the past several years as I have built my business, I’ve made sure to surround myself with people who help both my business and myself grow. Whether this is a mastermind, a mentor or a coach, these people propel me forward in a way that I doubt I could do as easily on my own.
Building a business isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here are four ways I’ve benefited (and continue to benefit) from having someone like this in my corner.
Shortcuts
I have always been a big believer in not reinventing the wheel. Often we think we need to figure everything out on our own, the hard way—and that this is just a part of the journey towards success. But why build from scratch or one slow step at a time when you can learn from someone who has already done what you are trying to achieve? You can still make progress in an authentic and personalized way by modeling others and putting your own unique spin on it. This way, you not only save time, but also frustration by avoiding the mistakes that others have made and are now able to caution you on.
Accountability
This is something that we all could use more of in our businesses and our lives. Sure, we could set goals and then pledge to keep ourselves on track, but once we know someone else is going to be keeping on top of us, we often experience a whole new level of motivation and desire for accomplishment. This can be the key to more implementing—and less procrastinating.
Thinking Bigger
To really achieve more, sometimes we just have to get out of our own head—and our own way. A mentor or a coach can give that outside perspective and be your biggest fan, encouraging you to make those big jumps you otherwise might be too afraid to make on your own. Personally, this has been one of the most incredibly transformational results I have gotten out my own experience with a coach. I heard the phrase “don’t ladder-climb, leap” recently and this is exactly how I see certain decisions in my business now. It’s very freeing when you give yourself permission to move forward this way—even when others might think you’ve gone off the deep end!
Setting Boundaries
Putting parameters around certain things in your business—whether it be time spent with clients, what your responsibility will be in a partnership, or just simply what you will tolerate day to day—can be something business owners often fail to do. Unfortunately, this lack of boundary setting can lead to resentful feelings towards yourself and others. You might instinctively know that you need to get clear on what your boundaries are, but we often need to hear it from somebody else before we really begin sticking to them. The best mentors won’t be afraid to tell you in what areas you might not be doing this so well—and hold you to a plan in order to enforce it and make it a habit.
As you can see, seeking out this kind of support isn’t just a way to get a little bit of cheerleading here and there—it’s a smart strategy that will help elevate your business in multiple ways and accelerate your success.
YouTube is still the most well known video site and the one with the widest reach. It’s actually the number #3 most-trafficked website on the Internet behind Google and Facebook!
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There is a ton of information out there on blogging tips, how to make money with your blog, how to publicize your blog, how to link up your blog with social media sites and on and on. But what if you just need the bare essentials so you can just get started? Sometimes those basics end up lost in the sea of info. Here’s what you need to know to be on your way. (You will of course find others who say there are other ways to do it. But in my own experience and from helping others get started, these few steps will get you set up right.)
It sounds obvious, but before you implement a new marketing strategy in your business, you need to know what your objectives are first—i.e., what is it that you are trying to accomplish? Social media is no different. It’s not enough to want to add it to your marketing mix just because “everyone else is doing it.”
