—
Wil Rose
COACHES VS
MENTORS
By Debra Pestrak
People have varying responses to the differences between a mentor and a coach. Some
say:
"A mentor is someone you respect."
"A coach is someone who keeps you focused."
"A mentor is someone you’d like to be like."
"A coach tells the truth, whether you like it or not."
"A mentor is free."
"You pay a coach."
There are a lot of descriptions, but the fact is that in business, you
need a mentor or mentors. Someone you can bounce ideas off of, and
get their feedback and advice. Someone who has experiences in the areas
you need to know very specific career advice. They know the in's and
out's of your business. They've been there, they've done it. They have
demonstrated they are successful. They have the experience you can learn
from.
There is no reason to learn things the hard way. Learn from others, incorporate their
success into your own. Smart people learn from the best.
When dealing with a mentor you need to be succinct. Prepare ahead of time what you
want to ask, the best way to ask it, and how to get the answer you need in the least
amount of time. Time is the most important commodity a mentor has. So when you ask
for it, be brief and to the point.
People ask me how I got to interview the #1 Real Estate Superstar
and the #1 agent from each of the major companies in the nation and
10 of the most powerful women in business. I respond, "Because I asked."
I gave them a compelling reason to want to let me interview them.
They all said the same thing, they like to mentor others, to give
back. The thing is, very few people will show the courage to decide
who they'd like as a mentor, dream a little, and then figure out how
to make that happen. If you could pick the best mentor who could help
you advance in your career, who would it be? What would it take to
make it happen?
When I chose sharing with people, how to get more out of their lives as my passion, one
of the first things I did was interview the very top speakers in the National Speakers
Association to learn their key lessons in building their business. Doing research and
taking other's advice will save you tons of time, money, energy, frustration, and pain.
Dave Liniger, Founder of RE/MAX took every one of the Van Schaack top sales leaders
to dinner shortly after starting to work there. Liniger was eager to learn everything he
could to figure out how Van Schaack became such a premiere company. He drilled them
for information. He wanted to know what made them so successful.
Find the best in your industry and learn from them. Take them to dinner
and find out what they did to become
successful. Ask them for advice on what they would do if they were
in your specific situation. In order to become the best, you have
to be deliberate about learning from the best.
On the other hand, a coach can translate your raw smarts into profitable greatness.
As you look at the best, most have had help getting where they are. The fact is that high
achievers (regardless of their field) who have good coaches always achieve more than
those who don't. Even though Tiger Woods is the best golfer currently on the circuit, and
he practices a lot, he constantly works with a coach to stay on top. Behind every Olympic
or National sports star, is an invisible coach who relentlessly framed this superstar for
success, someone who took the raw potential and talent, and channeled it into the
winning edge. Top executives and entrepreneurs have long enjoyed the benefits of
coaching. Now, coaching is a must for talented people wanting to enjoy reaching their
full potential - to take advantage of their God given talents.
The secret to achieving your goals is Accountability.
But not accountability to you, it's too easy to rationalize things away.
Not accountability to a spouse, partner or friend. They'll stop nagging you because they
don't want to damage the relationship. A mentor doesn't have the time.
The secret to accountability is a coach… someone who is committed to you and in
helping you reach your goals, someone who will help you along the path. A coach
merges focus with accountability, and brings discipline and insight. A coach allows you
to effortlessly push past your limits by conceiving the "big picture" and taking you there
step-by-step. One day you look up…and you're there.
It's about being decisive in your decisions, about knowing when it’s time to reach out for
help instead of thinking you can do it all by yourself. Mentors and coaches provide two
very different functions and most of the time different expertise, but both are very
important to your success.
And since we know that you pay a coach, partnering with a
coach should not be a question of cost, it should be a question of
results.
Think about it… wouldn't it be easier to maintain
laser focus if you had a caring, knowledgeable, successful coach who
has your best interests at heart? In one-on-one telephone coaching
sessions, they will nudge, support, and challenge (and yes sometimes
push) you to achieving your goals and dreams.
You can expect to:
• Be required to answer questions, openly and honestly
• Discover how
to use the talents you already possess, but aren’t using
• Respond
to the right questions for your life
• Be held accountable to achieving
the goals you set for yourself
• Shorten the time it would have taken
to accomplish what you wanted
• Feel more confident about yourself
and where you are going
And that's just the beginning.
Coaching unlocks
human potential, maximizes performance, leading to a fulfilled life!
Coaching provides an opportunity to gain clarity, remove self-imposed
limitations and become more self-reliant. Coaching produces positive,
lasting change.
Why do it the hard way? Take the smart and easier road and get the
assistance you need. Decide who you want as a mentor and go out and
get him/her. Want to know if you're ready for coaching?
Click here to download a Coaching
Assessment to take a quick assessment (this is a printable file.)
If you're already using a coach, good for you. Keep
on target and do what you’ve committed to. If you're ready for coaching,
click here Debra
Pestrak Coaching, or call Debra today at 760.434.3343.
P. S. I guarantee results! Coaching with me will inspire you. I won't accept your excuses,
or your not taking responsibility. We will develop a habit of action, of not just movement,
but momentum forward.
Yours in success,
Debra
Upcoming Events
and Past Articles
Check Debra's upcoming
events Calendar or see copies of her past Success
Articles.
About the Author
Debra Pestrak is a peak performance
expert, an award-winning motivational speaker, and author of Playing
with the Big Boys: Success Secrets of the Most Powerful Women in Business
and Playing with the Big Boys & Girls in Real Estate.
Debra's passion is to share her research results in a straightforward manner that shows
you what is possible. She inspires you to action! Debra is dedicated to developing
powerful programs that impact the way people think, act and work. She was a player in
corporate America for 26 years, working her way up the ranks from a telephone operator
to managing a $20 million budget. She has also instituted and led sales organizations,
and is a past president of the National Speakers Association—San Diego.
To discover additional performance advice, contact Debra at 888 SUN-3777.
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