There is an old saying that I love: Walk with giants and you will grow taller. So where are these giants who can stretch us, inspire us, challenge us, teach us and occasionally whisk us to new territory on their long coat-tails? Where do we look? How do get them to bend down and take an interest? How do we get invited to walk with them?

In every business there are shockingly talented giants who get a real thrill out of being able to help someone who is climbing their ladder. These masterful men and women love teaching, sharing, challenging new talent and unleashing the energy that a younger person brings to the table. Discover a giant who takes an active interest in your growth and you have access to an amazing mind, to someone who can help you negotiate the minefield of building your business or accelerate your career. A giant on your team will build you up, advise you, open doors for you and help you accomplish some serious stretch goals.

We know these modern-day giants as mentors, and if you ask most truly successful people, you will find a common thread linking their journey: an amazing, inspiring individual who took an interest in them and made an enormous difference in their career.

Now, a true mentor needs to be expert in your chosen arena. A rash of wonderful friends who support you and love you and tell you 'you can do it,' is all well and good. But a mentor is a different animal entirely: she plays on the same field you do; she has contacts developed over years of success and will make appropriate introductions for you; she will not accept mediocrity, excuses, laziness or shoddy thinking. Her time is valuable and when you have her attention you push yourself to deliver more than you knew you could.

Because your mentor sees your eagerness, the light in your eye, the talent you possess and the devotion to excellence that you bring to the table, she will teach you the ropes. You will learn more and faster than you ever could on your own. Learning from a mentor is like sitting at the foot of a master: you are in the presence of excellence and you do indeed walk taller.

Why would a giant bother with a Lilliputian? They may be attracted to a star in the making, you may remind them of themselves when they were struggling to find a toe-hold, they may be natural teachers or maybe they're just simply generous and want to give back. Yours is not question why, yours is to go on the hunt and find a friendly giant who actively wants to be part of your team. Do not talk yourself out of the quest because you can't figure out why a giant would care. The motivations of your giant are not your problem. Your task is to find one.

Most of my clients haven't ever thought actively about mentor-hunting. They would be ecstatic if a talented guide showed up, rolled up his sleeves and hunkered down to help, but they haven't yet expended energy to make it happen. Like so many things in life, you must follow your ideas with action. Giants are not trolling for ways to give enormous amounts of their time and energy away for free. They need to be wooed, seduced and excited before they bend down and look us squarely in the eye.

How to find a giant:

1. Set your sights high. Really high. Start by making an "A" list of people you'd feel unbelievably lucky to learn from. You may have read books by them, heard lectures, read articles. They may incredibly gifted but unknown—that's great too. They may be executives in your company who are a number of rungs up the ladder from you. Fame is not what makes a giant. But whoever the person, don't be shy. Giants are not standing at your eye level. You must look up.

2. Research each person on this list. Who are they? What are their accomplishments? Is there anyone you have in common who could make an introduction? How might you attract their attention?

3. Start the hunt by making lunch or breakfast dates with folks you do know. Former bosses and colleagues. Friends in the business you are in or trying to get into. Find out who they know. Share your mission and see if you can open up some new doors.

4. If no one can put you at the feet of one of your giants, write a simple, honest and enthusiastic letter to each of the people on your list. Let them know that you are looking for a guide/teacher and would like the opportunity to discuss that with them. Follow up your letter with a call. You may have to call and email a number of times. Giants are busy people.

5. Once the meeting is set, do your homework! Do not waste this golden opportunity by being unprepared. Think through how you will sell yourself and then remember to stop talking and listen. If it's appropriate, you may want to send some information about yourself in advance of the meeting.

6. Your prospective mentor will want to know about your goals to discern if there's a match between her knowledge base and your ambitions. So be prepared to talk clearly about your dream. And be prepared to make your case for why you chose him or her in particular. Flattery is good here—but don't overdo it.

7. If your giant has shone some interest, ask if he is willing to be your guide. What structure will work for them—a meeting monthly? Occasional phone calls when you have a specific question or problem? A weekly update? Co-design the relationship and make sure your have access to your guide. A giant in your dugout who really has no time for you isn't much different than not having him at all. You are looking for a mentor who actually wants the role.

8. Write a delightful thank you letter that you send out the following morning!

9. Repeat these steps until you have made a match—or matches! And then fasten your seat belt and get ready to accelerate!

About My Coaching:
As a personal and executive coach, it is my goal to bring dynamic leadership, a compassionate heart and powerful insight to the lives of my coaching clients. I work to help clients identify and pursue what is deeply meaningful in their lives and their businesses, and collaborates with them to transform vague yearnings or explicit goals into realities.

After graduating from Princeton University, I spent almost 20 years as an independent feature film, video and CD ROM producer guiding projects to success. As President of Midwest Film Productions, I honed my skills building productive teams of people, working to intense deadlines, quickly and accurately assessing complex situations and brainstorming and implementing creative solutions. It was during these years that my passion for small businesses emerged.

In my coaching practice I call on my extensive production and business background with the express goal of helping my clients live their lives and create their businesses by design and not default.

I completed my coaches training through the prestigious Coaches Training Institute, completed advanced training and received my certification credential through them as well.

My latest favorite quote: "A goal is a dream with a deadline."

If you are interested in exploring how coaching may be of value to you personally or to your business, I am pleased to offer a ‡ hour complimentary session. Please feel free to give me a call or send me an email.

Contact me:
Dina Silver, CPCC
Pegasus Coaching Group
310-393-8082
dina@pegasuscoachinggroup.com
www.pegasuscoachinggroup.com