Success

The more I read about people who have succeeded in business, or in life, the more I know that it is not what you know, but who you know, that matters.

There have been success stories of people starting with nothing, and from nothing, and clawing their way to success with only their ambition to drive them.  However, most of these individuals, when they tell their stories, have someone they admit to having helped them achieve that success if only by believing in them, loudly and persistently.

Every book, or article, I read on the subject of achieving success in business advocates finding a mentor.  How does one go about finding a mentor?  Have I written about this before?  It's a subject I think about constantly.

There was a time when I think I could have achieved much through blind ambition.  However, when I parted ways with my ex, a lot of that ambition seeped out of me.  She encouraged me more than I ever appreciated until it was gone.  She believed in me, loudly and persistently.  It wasn't blind praise, as much as an honest belief that I could achieve anything I put my mind to.

I do have many people who love me.  This does not discount that love in any way.

When I had my son and slipped into the depression I spoke about earlier, even what little ambition I had left dried up completely.  It was disheartening for me to be so apathetic, yet I couldn't find a way out of the apathy.

Now the old ambition is creeping back in, and I feel driven to achieve something more.  It is something I think about often, which is why I started this blog, and why I have been reading everything I can find on the subject.  I've always wanted to be a business owner, and that alone is the best part of what I do now, but I've never had a talent or skill I felt was marketable on my own.  Now, though, I have many ideas, but no idea on how to make them happen, or if they are even realistic or achievable.

This brings me back to the subject of mentors.  If this is truly the secret for those born without connections, how does one go about finding a mentor?  And more importantly, how does this relationship work?  What does the mentor expect in return?

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

I just finished Lee Iococca's book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone?  And I have to say, it struck a nerve.  For quite a while, I've been thinking the same thing.  Every four years we elect a president to lead the country, however we don't really elect a leader, but rather whoever best panders to the whims of the population.  Corporations don't seem to have leadership anymore, but rather compensation packages.

Throughout the book I was riled up.  If you haven't read it, you should.  But mostly I was thinking, why not me?  I think I have what it takes to be a leader.  I know some of you who know me will agree, and some will laugh.  Believe me, I know where I fall short.

I was born with a knack for working with people, common sense, more self-confidence than I deserve, a better-than-average intelligence, and a drive to be something.  What I lack is creativity, influential people, direction, and a mentor.

Every entrepreneurial how-to book or article I've read consistently says the same thing: Get a mentor.  How does a person go about doing that?  Throughout my life and working career I only ever once met a person I admired, who had any interest in furthering my career.  Even still, it was hard for me to treat him as a mentor even though I regarded him as such, because I didn't want to presume when he never came out and said as much.  After all, he was a VP and I was rank and file.  However, I did respect him a great deal, and even though I didn't keep in contact with him after leaving that job, I still smile when I think about him.

Even Iacocca himself admitted to getting where he was because of three great men in his life that acted as his mentors.

I want to be a leader.  I want to use whatever talent I have, and the skills I've learned, for something worthwhile.  How do I go about finding the person that can see what is possible, give advice, ask the tough questions, teach, and believe in me?  Is such a thing possible for everyone, or is that something reserved for the lucky?