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.