I’d agree that a mentor should be someone who’s “been there and done that.” But these days the lines tend to get blurred between mentors and coaches. I’d also say that someone who did what you want to do 1, 2 5 or 10 years ago probably won’t be able to help you today, depending on your industry and the changing economy.

I love this …

‘ … people earning 6-figures and 7-figures who couldn’t coach a client out of a paper bag. And I’ve met struggling coaches who know how to make others shine even while their own light is buried under a bushel.”

I’ve been a childbirth educator for three decades and I know other exemplary instructors who have never had a baby. Go figure, eh? Just because they’ve never given birth doesn’t mean they should be discounted as teachers who are qualified to help expectant couples navigate the terrain of laboring and birthing their babies.

Here’s something I think you’ll find interesting …

I especially enjoy helping “newbies” online — whether it’s answering their blogging questions, sharing marketing tips, directing them to cost-saving tools and resources — whatever happens to be on their plates at the moment.

Oftentimes, they come back to me with a remark like, “You’re such a good coach. Thank you!” Thing is … coaching is not my expertise and I’ve never billed myself out as a coach. Maybe I’ve missed my calling. 🙂

Magnificent post and guest post!

And here’s another thing: Just because someone has done something once, it says NOTHING about their ability to teach someone else to do it. There are too many other variables at play. Different time in history, different context, different motivation/skills/personality, etc.

I don’t want to know what a coach achieved personally. I want to know how knowledgeable they are about that particular goal in general. I would rather know that they studied many successful people’s strategies and can help an individual tailor those to unique situations. Plus some humility to understand that just because something is true in one situation doesn’t make it true across the board.

Same with therapists, by the way. You don’t have to have personally overcome depression or anxiety or whatever diagnosis in order to successfully treat it.