Mentors > Do You Have Any?

[Pangaea]

I think it's a simple concept that seems to get neglected, just like the professional athlete has a hero & a coach the top performers in any field generally have a mentor.

Do you want to share yours?

Business life wise I was lucky to apprentice a successful real estate developer for about a year that was my first mentor (aged 18).

My first career mentor was a VP of TCF Financial Corporation. My first sales mentor came from the same company as well.

My first personal development mentor was a top distributor for one of the largest MLMs on the planet.

Then there are mentors by proxy (people you study and emulate, but have never met):

My first mentor by proxy was Pedro Martinez (his tenacity, aggression, and work ethic was inspiring for a 11 year old ball player).

Others include: Tiger Woods, Larry Ellison, Andrew Carnegie, Alwaleed bin Talal bin Alsaud, Samuel Truett Cathy (Chick-fil-A founder), Reginald Lewis (first African American to build a billion dollar company) and a few famous spiritual figures.

Right now I'm stuck on learning all I can about Chris Gardner ("The Pursuit of Happyness" guy)

Anyone care to share theirs and what they've learned? Being that I'm probably one of the youngest people here, I'm sure you guys have much more interesting mentors and stories than I do.

Looking forward to picking your brains!

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Bob Knight. As a sportswriter in college, I was able to talk to him. It seemed to hit home. Although, I still can't throw a chair like he can.

 

[xrac]

Bob Knight. As a sportswriter in college, I was able to talk to him. It seemed to hit home. Although, I still can't throw a chair like he can.

You haven't practiced as much as he has!

 

[somarco]

I have been fortunate to have had several mentors but the most memorable was a guy I worked for 20 years ago. He had a most amazing talent with sales. I had never seen anyone work a deal like Larry Day.

Very bright. Attentive to the needs of others. His philosophy was, if it was good for you, good for him and good for the carrier then everyone should move forward.

He had his flaws, mostly involving women, but he was an absolute master at courting the sale.

I miss the times we had together and my opportunity to learn from one of the best. There has been a void in my career since we parted in 1993 but I have recently found someone that may well take me to the next level.

This individual has already helped immensely and I am looking forward to learning more from him over the next several months.

Only time will tell but right now the future looks very promising.

I would be remiss if I fail to mention many of the contributors on this forum who have helped me transition from wholesaler in large group plans to retailer in the individual major med market. It was much more difficult than I imagined but this forum is a wealth of information.

 

[Full Throttle]

Then there are mentors by proxy (people you study and emulate, but have never met):

I have been influenced by many, but the top three that directly have influenced how I do business:

1. Burt Meisel - the biggest thing I got from reading Burt's books and his articles in LIS Magazine was to keep it simple. If you can't explain a concept in clear terms on one page, you don't really understand it yourself. Whether presenting group benefit, life insurance, disability, or a package case, I follow this advice religiously.

2. John Savage - probably my favorite "hero" of the insurance business, a monster producer who simplified the entire process. Compassion, customer service, simplicity, and delivering extreme value beyond just selling life insurance ("the least important part of a financial plan" as he would tell prospects). I opened a decent sized case this morning that I can directly attribute from reading his book "High Touch Selling" again over the weekend.

3. A poster on another forum that has also made the business simple. Goes by "Anonymous", don't know anything about him and wouldn't recognize him if we crossed paths, but a good chunk of what I'm doing now is a direct result of him sharing his knowledge and experience.

There are many others in the online forums where I have learned different tidbits that have absolutely helped, too many to mention.

 

[xrac]

Although I have never met them face to face I have learned more about being successful in this business from Rick Blaine and Client Advocate on www.topgunproducers.com then I have from any other person.

 

[Justin Bilyj]

I have a few mentors.
Ron Paul (who knew an honest politician existed),
My grandfather Alexander Bilyj, war hero,
Rob Liano (health insurance sales),
Don Miguel Ruiz (author of the four agreements and mastery of love)
and OSHO a politically incorrect mystic...

 

[HealthGuy]

AL3 is my mentor because he is the only ethical insurance guy in this forum.

 

[Newby]

I'm confused if we are talking about mentors or role models.

I thought a mentor was someone that actually coaches you personally or that you could go to with questions. Is that incorrect?

 

[Pangaea]

I'm confused if we are talking about mentors or role models.

I thought a mentor was someone that actually coaches you personally or that you could go to with questions. Is that incorrect?

I guess I'm putting them in the same category.