It's been a privilege to learn from so many.
I've had amazing coaches. I've had willing mentors. I've had peers who pushed me to be better. And I've had the humility (eventually) to actually listen to them.
Looking back on my journey, the periods of fastest growth all have one thing in common: I was learning from someone who had already walked the path I was trying to walk.
The Myth of the Self-Made
There's a persistent myth in entrepreneurship: the self-made success story. The person who figured it all out on their own, through sheer grit and determination.
It's a compelling narrative. It's also largely fiction.
Every successful person I know has had help. Mentors who opened doors. Coaches who accelerated their learning. Peers who challenged their thinking. Teachers who planted seeds that bloomed years later.
The "self-made" myth is not only inaccurate—it's harmful. It makes people think they should be able to figure everything out alone. It creates shame around asking for help. It slows down growth that could be accelerated.
Coaches vs. Mentors
I distinguish between coaches and mentors, though both are valuable:
Coaches are typically paid professionals who help you develop specific skills or achieve specific goals. The relationship is structured, time-bound, and focused.
Mentors are typically unpaid guides who share wisdom from their experience. The relationship is more organic, often longer-term, and broader in scope.
I've benefited enormously from both.
What Good Mentorship Looks Like
Not all mentorship is created equal. Here's what I've learned about what makes mentorship actually work:
Relevance: The best mentors have walked a path similar to the one you're trying to walk. Their experience is directly applicable to your situation.
Availability: A mentor who's too busy to actually engage isn't much help. Look for people who have time and willingness to invest in you.
Honesty: The best mentors tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Seek out people who will challenge you.
Chemistry: Mentorship works best when there's genuine connection. You should actually enjoy spending time with your mentor.
The Lessons That Stuck
Some lessons from my coaches and mentors that have stuck with me:
"Speed of implementation is everything." Don't just learn—apply immediately. The gap between learning and doing is where most people fail.
"Your network is your net worth." Not in a transactional way, but in a genuine way. The relationships you build determine the opportunities you have.
"Clarity comes from action, not thought." Stop overthinking and start doing. You'll learn more from one experiment than from a hundred hours of planning.
"Take care of your energy first." You can't pour from an empty cup. Health, sleep, and relationships aren't luxuries—they're prerequisites.
Paying It Forward
The mentors who invested in me didn't do it for personal gain. They did it because someone had invested in them, and they wanted to pay it forward.
I try to do the same. I spend time each week talking with entrepreneurs who are earlier in their journey. I share what I've learned. I make introductions. I try to be the mentor I wish I'd had.
The Invitation
If you're not currently learning from coaches or mentors, I encourage you to start.
Identify the areas where you most need to grow. Find people who have mastered those areas. Figure out how to learn from them—whether through paid coaching, organic mentorship, or simply studying their work.
You don't have to figure everything out alone. In fact, you shouldn't.
It's been a privilege to learn from so many. I hope you'll give yourself the same privilege.
