The Only Shortcut

We often hear that there are no shortcuts in life to get where we want to be. It takes hard work, it takes experience, mistakes. There isn’t a magic door that you can open to add skill in the areas you seek. But there is one thing that can significantly speed up the process. Find a mentor.

A mentor is someone who is already where you aspire to be. Most importantly, they have been where you are now, and they know what it took to “succeed” and sit where they now sit. Find someone with like goals and passion who is willing to help you overcome obstacles, share their past mistakes, and encourage you when you feel inadequate or far away from your goals. We can learn so much from studying what they have done, and “copying” it to help us find our way. A good mentor can remind you that your problems aren’t new or unique.

Athletes, find of a player that is where you want to be (varsity level, college player, etc.). Study what they did to get there. If they are accessible to you, ask them how they got there and what they would have done differently or what mistakes they made. They can provide you with guidance, strategy, motivation. Even if this is a professional player that you respect, find the books and videos about them that describe their journey, their work ethic, and the decisions they made that led them to a career in sports. Pay attention, and study and learn from those who are where you want to be!

"One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination."  -John C. Maxwell

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