You’re Not Special

That’s right. You’re not special.

The challenges you’re facing today as a business, an owner, a leader, or a teammate are not exclusive to you. Whatever challenge you’re facing, there’s a group of other individuals just like you who are facing that same struggle.

Again, you’re not special.

Professionally and personally, for every roadblock you’re facing and washed-out bridge that you’re encountering on your journey, there are others who have already been there. The key to success is finding those people and pulling in some outside help to guide you along the way. Here are three quick thoughts…

Find a Mentor
Early on, we were blessed with the mentorship of leaders running agencies just like ours, only further down the path. “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.” When we asked them to share some of their wisdom and experiences with us, and how they got the t-shirt, they were more than happy to help us.

Too often, when it comes to other businesses in our space, we view them as competitors. If we can break free from that mindset, understanding there’s enough for everyone, then we can begin helping one another. A rising tide lifts all boats, and when we share our wisdom with others in our field, we all get better.

Join a Mastermind Group
When Napoleon Hill wrote Think and Grow Rich, he invested a lot of time talking about mastermind groups. He described these as “A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.”

Over the years, we’ve experienced the power of mastermind groups in many forms. Unlike a mentor who is walking a similar path to yours, mastermind groups open the door to learning from people with very diverse paths and experiences, allowing you to encourage one another and gain knowledge more broadly.

Voice Your Challenges
Here’s the last thing to add here. You need to be willing to voice your challenges. Too often, we get sucked into the lie that we need to have it all together and that admitting we don’t know everything will make us look inadequate. The reality is that none of us know it all and that we are stronger together than we are alone. When you acknowledge that and start to speak up about the areas where you could use a little help, you’ll be shocked at all the great advice you’re opened up to.

Call-to-Action
No, you’re not special, and neither are your challenges. That is fantastic news! Now, go find some other “not special” individuals to be “not special” with, and help each other navigate whatever is coming down your path…