Over the years, I have been very fortunate to have a number of different mentors that have helped me overcome roadblocks that I have faced. I have also had a few consultants. They thought their primary job was to continue to have me pay them while hoping that they would eventually give me an answer. Of course, they never did.
Everyone needs a mentor and everyone needs to schedule their time to take advantage of their good advice.
Do you know that over the past few months, a number of the readers of this column have shown an interest in improving their business but have only wasted their time by signing up and never completed the process? Hundreds actually. Congratulations to you. Regardless of how much better you felt after reading the column, you are actually worse off than if you had never even read it.
Just like every other program that people show an interest in, only 20% of the readers of this column that raised their hand, signed up, were moved by the article to begin the process, actually moved beyond step one and are now enjoying greater productivity and greater income.
The rest of you got excited enough to go to the first base but then what? Nothing. Just a word of advice: Never even begin a program if you are not going to see it through and of course as soon as you can determine that you have made a mistake in a decision, and you determine it is not going to pay off, stop as fast as you can. But just to sign up shows that you are still at the consultant level and not ready for a mentor.
Back to the difference between a mentor and a consultant: A consultant doesn't care what you do. He just wants you to pay him. But a mentor wants his mentorees to succeed, to learn from his experience, and to bypass the mistakes he made by adhering to his advice.
I would like to be considered a mentor in this relationship especially since I am not being paid. Otherwise, as Chef Ramsey would say, well you know.To learn more, visit Joel Pate's website at
