I thought I knew it all.
I never thought I needed a mentor.
I knew who I was.
I’m a successful business owner.
But then the Great Recession happened.
My business collapsed.
During this time, I began watching others.
I noticed something.
Not everyone was like me.
I’m strategic.
I take a deliberate and methodical approach, whereas others “ready, fire, aim.”
I saw colleagues successful with this approach.
It angered me.
How is it that I did everything “right,” and was out of business?
And they were doing everything “wrong” and were thriving?
Soon, I realized that there isn’t right or wrong.
It isn’t that black and white.
I was missing a diverse perspective.
I needed an objective third party.
But I didn’t have a mentor.
So I created an “invisible council” of leaders, dead and alive, I admired and sought to emulate.
As I experienced challenges, I invited ‘experts’ from diverse backgrounds to my imaginary boardroom.
I asked, what do I think each would do in this situation?
What advice would each give?
The exercise got me out of my echo chamber.
I take the best qualities of those I admire and put them into practice.
I invite you to do the same.
But there’s a rule.
Your council must push you to see different perspectives and be your best version of yourself.