When we encounter a fear — and we all have fears — it may indicate an opportunity for self-development. In fact, you might find the key to your success when you lean into those fears.
Part of facing fear is looking at what’s preventing you from moving forward. It’s not always easy to see. Sometimes, we’re so close to a problem we can’t see it clearly. It’s like trying to cut your own hair. You’re too close to do a great job. You need to ask somebody else to look at the problem from all angles, whether that means hiring a coach, finding a mentor or joining a study group. These are all ways of shifting your perspective and seeing what you overlooked.
Mentoring
Beyond time invested, there doesn’t have to be a cost to find a mentor. You’re just searching for a person you can work with for mutual benefit. Sometimes, when someone is helping to make you better, you make them better too, which is what happens with a mentoring relationship.
Study groups
Study groups are like mentoring in that they are cost-effective. Although, some study groups may meet in person a few times during the year, so there may be a cost for travel. Like mentoring, though, study groups are about sharing and bonding while offering a way to have somebody else look at your situation and you can look at their situation. There are a lot of great success stories that come from study groups and mentorship experiences.
Book clubs
An MDRT book club is another great way to connect with others. It’s not really about the books you read. It’s about your business, your self-awareness and authenticity. It’s about your development. It’s about the friendships and relationships you develop with other MDRT members. All you must do is invest the time to read a book and show up every six weeks for about an hour. It’s an easy thing for you to commit to doing, yet not everybody will.
If you’re in that small group of people who make that commitment, you’ll find other peers who are similarly disciplined and looking for that kind of experience. You’ll be amazed at the connections you’ll make in that process.
Coaching
I don’t know any Top of the Table members who haven’t spent money on some amount of coaching, whether it’s one or multiple coaching programs. I’ve probably participated in more than 10 different coaching programs in the last 15 or 20 years.
While working with a coach can be expensive, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on self-development. Pick something to do and invest in yourself by finding out who’s going to make you better.
Getting started
There are a ton of resources available to you on the MDRT website or go to the MDRT Academy if you haven’t qualified yet to join MDRT. I strongly recommend you log on to mdrt.org. Don’t miss out on helpful information just because you don’t know about it.
See more from Tim Clairmont in his video, “Personal goals: One way to achieve them.”
Also, talk to other MDRT members and ask them what they get out of MDRT and how they use their MDRT membership. MDRT was built by members for members. There are so many things that are under the layers of MDRT and so many different ways you can use your MDRT membership. Don’t miss out on the chance to get over your fears, move past your blind spots and go to the next level of your development.
Tim Clairmont is a 15-year MDRT member. He’s also a Top of the Table member.
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Thanks for the great insight, Tim. It’s spot on.