The world’s most successful organizations operate with a board of directors – a carefully selected team of individuals who guide and advise. What if you could have your own team who was there to support you, guide you, and offer belief and mentorship along your path? I like to call this your Board of Believers.
All too often on our paths of building a successful and fulfilling life, or longing to make a difference and grow into the best versions of ourselves, it can feel like we have to go it alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
With a little bit of intention and careful cultivation, you can create your very own Board of Believers. These are people who can be there for you when you are at a turning point, need support or guidance, or are simply looking for someone to cheer you on and keep you on track toward your dreams.
Throughout my life and career, I’ve been lucky enough to call my mentor, Gigi, my biggest believer. Gigi also happens to be my mom, so she’s been there from day one – as my encourager, friend, and later my business partner and trusted guide.
Her belief in me has always been important to me, but never as much as in the last few years. In early 2018, I was in a career that was burning me out. I was making great money, but I wasn’t fully fulfilled. I longed to do work I love for a living. I knew deep down that coaching was my calling, but I was scared to take the leap – and give up the security of my high-paying career.
Fast forward a few years and Gigi and I have built an incredible business and community. With her support, I’ve had the opportunity to really master the craft of coaching. Today, I’m happier and more fulfilled than I’ve ever been.
When I tell people about our relationship, they often share with me that they wish they had “a Gigi” in their life. Someone to believe in them, uplift them, guide them, and push them.
Some people are blessed to find these relationships in life without trying. In rare instances, they happen within families, like Gigi and I. Or perhaps you find a great mentor in school or within your professional life.
All too often though, people think that if this relationship doesn’t just naturally fall into their lap, it means it’s out of reach for them. That they just aren’t meant to have that kind of mentor or believer in their life. But in reality, anyone can find guidance, support, and belief in their relationships. You just have to know where to look and how to go about it.
Let’s talk about a couple of misconceptions about finding a mentor or believer (or a team of them), and how you can create these kinds of relationships in your life.
Misconception #1 – The mentor has to look a certain way
It’s easy to get stuck thinking that your mentor, guide, or believer needs to fit the bill of what you see in other people’s relationships. In reality though, believers come in many forms. It could be a coach you invest in to help you grow and develop a relationship with over the years. It could be someone you admire who you reach out and form a connection with. It could be a friend or family member, or even a childhood teacher who comes back into your life.
Before you can begin to identify and find these people, it helps to get clear on what you want out of this relationship. How would you want the dynamic with your believers to feel? What kind of values do you want these people to have? What area of your life would you most want support in? How often would you want to be connected with them?
If you want to get some clarity around this topic, try journaling on some of the questions above and see what comes up.
The more clarity you have about what you desire, the more easily you’ll attract it. Open your heart and mind to the possibilities, and you may be pleasantly surprised…
Misconception #2 – You need ONE single person to be your biggest believer
Sometimes there is a single person who comes into our life and changes it forever. But more often than not, support comes in the form of community. What if instead of attaching yourself to the idea of a mentor, you could look instead to build up your “Board of Believers” – like a board of advisors for inspiration and support.
Although my relationship with Gigi has been the core mentorship of my life, I’m always looking for connections and relationships with people who can help me learn and grow.
Sometimes this is a person who has accomplished something I want to create in my life and I can benefit from being in their presence and learning from them. Other times it’s someone who gives me unconditional love and support in an area where I doubt myself.
I bet if you take the time to think about it, there are already some pretty amazing believers in your world with whom you could nurture your relationships even more.
One of my favorite things about coaching is that I get the chance to be this kind of believer for the people I work with! I also love being a believer for my friends and family.
Misconception #3 – The relationship has to happen “naturally”
For some of us, the right mentor or guide seems to simply fall into our laps. But in most cases, this isn’t actually how it happens!
Don’t hold yourself back from getting the support you really need and want because you aren’t willing to go out and look for it. (Or even directly ask for it in some cases!)
If you’ve thought about all of the people in your life and you still feel a space you’d like to fill, how can you seek out the people who could fill that role for you? This might mean investing in a coach to support you, or it may mean reaching out to someone you admire and offering to take them out to dinner.
There’s nothing wrong with making a direct ask either. Let the person know you’re looking for guidance and mentorship and ask them if they might be willing to set up a quarterly lunch or meeting with you.
Often when I speak to potential clients for the first time, they share with me that in our conversation, it’s the first time their dreams have felt possible. So many people have never had a space where they could truly open up and share the big vision that’s inside their hearts – and have it be received with belief and acceptance.
I love creating a space where my clients can reflect and get clear on their deepest desires. Where they can courageously speak their hearts and I can walk with them hand-in-hand toward their dreams.
That’s why this kind of relationship is so worth cultivating and seeking out in your life! You’re capable of incredible things, but you were never meant to get there alone.
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