Regardless of the industry which you are working or seeking to work within, my advice would be to surround yourself with those who can help your development and guide you to becoming valued and at the top of your game. In order to do this, you not only need a good sense of direction yourself, something that will change and develop over time, but you also need to be surrounded by those who are well on their way to being successful. I know that success is defined differently from person to person, but I am sure you can understand what I mean between somebody who is a go getter and who sees them selves making a huge impact, as opposed to somebody who resents their job or current employment status, and who may not aid you in developing your own skill set. Within this bog I hope to give you the tools to ensure you are not only chasing success for yourself, but also surrounding yourself with others who are doing the same.
I’d like to first be clear in saying that I am in no way talking about the self made millionaire, who now runs courses throughout Instagram or Facebook marketing strategies and constantly tells you to chase the passive income, and to set yourself up for the future. I do not mean for you to follow these people at all. I am talking of the ones who have worked hard from the bottom, and who are now taking on employees and attempting to guide them in a direction that ultimately sees every body rise to the top. Somebody who has gone through tough times and who has life lessons to pass on to others. All successful people have had periods of self doubt, times of little to no income, have questioned their own beliefs but have strategised and been systematic with their endeavors, and are now somewhat closer to where they want to be.
I have been surrounded by both ends of the stick. I have worked within facilities who seek nothing more than to line their own pockets, and use those underneath them to create the wealth they desire, and I have been within a polar opposite situation, where everything is about giving back and ensuring everyone is on the same page. I am currently working within situation two, where I know that any time I need, I can reach out for help and I will always have the support to go after the next thing I need to do in order to keep progressing forward. This sort of thing does not happen without a solid leader, and a system whereby there is open dialogue, clear direction and a vast level of quality experience steering the ship. I want you to ask yourself if your current employer is giving you that level of attention and if you feel comfortable enough with your own direction to know that everybody is on the same page. In order for you to get the most out of yourself, you need a solid mentor steering the ship and giving you the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had.
A good mentor should provide:
– Direction.
– Honest feedback.
– A broad and useful skill set.
– 2 way open communication.
– A strong set of values, morals and goals.
– Be true to themselves, their craft and be more than money.
As a developing individual, you need to take your chances with two hands and be ready to take constructive criticism, learn from your mistakes and be honest with those around you. Build the environment in which you’d be happy to lead one day and stay true to the reasons you started in the first place. For every success that you have, you will have multiple set backs and times in which you question everything. These are the best moments in which you and your mentor can sit down and re-assess. I have been fortunate to have an open door policy within my current work place. We have meetings, we send emails, we have regular phone calls. There is never a stupid question and there is never a bad time to ask for help, to receive good or bad news and there is always a clear target or direction moving forward. By keeping yourself open and honest with those around you, you will always have the opportunity to grow. It is as simple as that. You should not have the same goals at the end of the year, as you did at the start and you should always be aware of your achievements and have somebody hold you accountable, as you do yourself.
Mentoring is a two way street which takes a solid foundation and a brick by brick approach. You will do yourself and your development a great disservice if you have not sought out a good and honest mentor to aid your development. This person or these people can come from anywhere and do not necessarily have to be who you work for or work with, but mores so somebody who you know has walked in your shoes before, and who can help you set up strategies and enhance your development moving forward. I have been fortunate enough to help people who are not fitness industry employees, much like I have worked with fitness students for years now. It doesn’t matter, as long as you can see value in what they say. The more time that we spend talking about how we feel and what we want to achieve, the more likely it is that somebody will be able to lend a hand. Being anxious and unsure is not something that you should go alone. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question.