The longer I live the more I understand how important having good coaching and mentoring is critical for business and personal success. In this second part to the series, we’ll highlight the importance of having support from those that are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
When I think back over my life, I realize that some of the most important lessons I ever learned didn’t happen in a classroom, a training seminar, or even at work. They happened in the passenger seat of my dad’s car, in the aisles of hardware stores, during Saturday morning errands, and standing beside him while he tried to fix, build, tinker, or repair just about anything you can imagine.
As a kid, I didn’t always understand why he took me everywhere. Hardware stores. Coffee breaks. Long walks. Grocery runs. Random errands that could have been done in half the time without a talkative kid tagging along. I thought he just liked the company, and maybe he did, but now that I’m older, I see what was really happening. He was coaching me without ever announcing it.
He let me watch how things were done. How he problem-solved. How he improvised. How he stayed patient (mostly). How he chose the right tool for the job. He didn’t sit me down for “lessons.” He didn’t give speeches. He didn’t hand me a checklist. He simply lived the lessons in front of me. Looking back now, I realize he wasn’t just showing me how to build things, he was showing me how to be the kind of man who builds things. And the older I get, the more grateful I am for that.
I also think often about my grandpa, a man whose presence alone taught me more than words ever could. He modeled hard work, quiet strength, and a deep, steady love for his family. He didn’t just tell us what mattered. He lived it. Every day.
Those memories are burned into me. My grandpa was strong, reliable, and consistent. The kind of man who would do whatever it took for the people he loved. He showed me what responsibility looks like. He showed me what commitment feels like. And even though he’s gone, his legacy lives through the way I carry myself as a dad and now as a grandpa.
In many ways, he’s the blueprint I follow in this new season of my life. When I’m with my grandkids, I think about him, his patience, his humor, his example and I try to honor that. Because what he gave me wasn’t just memories. He coached me into becoming the grandpa I always hoped I’d be.
And then there was one of my former bosses. One of the most important coaches I ever had in my professional life. For reasons I didn’t fully understand at the time, he took a chance on me. He saw something in me before I learned to see it in myself.
He often gave me tasks that, frankly, were way above my pay grade. At first, I was convinced I was doing his job. I worried I’d mess something up, drop the ball, or disappoint him. But years later, I found out something surprising. He was watching the whole time. Not in a micromanaging way but in a coaching way. He wasn’t offloading work. He was building someone. He was building me.
He let me step into responsibilities that stretched me. He challenged me in a safe direction. And he quietly evaluated how I handled it, not to judge me, but to prepare me.He taught me one of the most important leadership lessons I’ve ever learned. A great coach doesn’t just tell you what to do. A great coach lets you do it. And then teaches you from the results. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that boss gave me a gift. The confidence to lead, decide, and grow.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
In last week’s post, we talked about directions and planning, why having a clear blueprint matters and how that vision sets everything in motion. That laid the foundation. Today, we’re building on that and stepping into Pillar 2 of the Blueprint Series, Coaching.
If Planning is the map, Coaching is the guide who walks the path with you. This pillar sets the stage for how you move through the rest of your business journey. And just like the Planning pillar, Coaching isn’t a “nice extra”, it’s a core part of how real progress happens. Everything that follows in this series (Community and Tools) becomes far more effective when you understand how coaching fits into the picture. There’s an actual formula for business coaching that has helped so many people move from stuck and overwhelmed to focused and in motion and we’re beginning to unpack that here.
Just like I didn’t learn life’s most valuable lessons alone, you aren’t meant to build your online business alone either. Coaching is the guiding hand on your back when you’re unsteady. It’s the experienced voice saying, Here’s what to do next.” It’s the honest feedback you didn’t want but absolutely needed. It’s the shortcut you would’ve never found on your own.
Coaching saves you years of trial and error. It helps you avoid mistakes you can’t see. It gives you clarity when you’re unsure.
And most importantly, just like my dad, my grandpa, and my old boss, a great coach sees what you can become long before you can.
Why Coaching Matters (and Why It’s Pillar #2)
Just like planning gives you the map, coaching gives you the guide. In my experience, a coach:
- Shortens Your Learning Curve – They’ve already walked the path. Why spend 2 years learning what someone can teach you in 2 hours?
- Helps You Avoid Wrong Turns – You don’t know what you don’t know but a good coach does.
- Provides Accountability – Motivation fades. Coaching keeps you moving.
- Builds Confidence – When someone believes in you, really believes in you, you move differently.
- Helps You Step Into Your Potential – A great coach hands you responsibility not to overwhelm you, but to grow you.
Coaching isn’t random. There is a structure to effective business coaching. There is a way of breaking things down into steps, feedback, adjustments, and progress that has helped countless
entrepreneurs stay out of the “I’m stuck” zone and actually move forward. As we continue this series, you’ll see how Coaching works together with Planning, Community, and Tools as part of a bigger, proven approach.
This post is the only one in the series that will focus entirely on Coaching because it deserves a thorough look. We’ve now set the stage with Planning (your blueprint and directions) and dug into Coaching (your guide and growth accelerator).
Next, we’ll move into the power of Community. The people around you who support, challenge, and walk alongside you. And then into Tools, the systems and resources that help you build efficiently without burning out.
At the end of this series, I’ll be sharing a solution. It’s a complete, easy-to-follow blueprint that brings all four pillars together (Plan, Coaching, Community, Tools) into one cohesive path. It’s something many people use to jump-start their business-building process in a focused, efficient way. And I can honestly say you won’t want to miss it.
Who was your coach at some point in your life? A parent? A teacher? A mentor? A boss? Someone who gave you their time, showed you the way, or believed in you when you needed it most? Drop a comment below and share. I’d love to hear your story. We’re building this together, one pillar at a time. And with the right coaching behind you, I truly believe you can build something meaningful, successful, and uniquely yours.
Now my current and forever life coach, my wife, is coaching me to finish up for the day because dinner’s ready. Now, that’s a good life lesson! 🤣
“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, so you can be who you’ve always known you could be.” — Tom Landry
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” — John C. Maxwell
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
My mentor says I need to “take more initiative.” So I initiated a nap.
My mentor said, “Follow your dreams.” So I went back to sleep.
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
“Show Don’t Tell,” comes to mind. And in your case, be an example and lead gently. When I think about it, there have been many teachers and mentors in my life, including my parents. My dogs throughout the years. Even my third grade teacher who had a nervous breakdown in front of the class. My boyfriends, even the controlling ones. Nature. The changing seasons. Near death experiences.
And my nurse mentors. The list goes on…..
My dad took me with him for walks, to the famous Amish market in the hometown and many car rides. And now, it’s a real joy to remember.
Hi Kate – I love how you described the wide range of mentors in your life. From parents and teachers to nature, pets, and even difficult relationships. It really shows how coaching often comes from places we don’t expect. Your memories of your dad taking you on walks and errands reminded me so much of my own experiences, where the quiet moments became the real lessons. Thank you for sharing this. It’s a beautiful reminder that the best coaches don’t always teach, they simply live the example in front of us.
Hi Ernie,
I think looking back on my life and reading yours, I could be your brother! So many similarities, both from my Army dad, grandfather and so many coaches since.
Life can be so daunting in so many ways but if you sit down, listen and learn, it can bring you to places you never thought possible.
Thanks for the reminder that all of the experiences (you know, the bad ones) were there for a good reason.
Hi Marc – It’s amazing how many of us share those same roots without even realizing it. Be it dads, grandfathers, and the coaches who shaped us along the way. You’re right, life can feel overwhelming at times, but those moments of listening and learning really do carry us farther than we ever expected. And yes, the tough experiences usually end up being the ones that grow us the most. I appreciate you sharing this. It’s a powerful reminder that none of us walk this path alone.
It was a pleasure to read your post! It took me back to reflect on those who were family, teachers, or bosses who influenced and help shape who I became and am today. I can totally identify with the importance of coaching, as when I compare when I did business without a coach and with a coach, there was much more success with a coach. there was also much more stability, motivation and quicker growth with a. each. Thanks for your post!
Hi Denny – Thank you for sharing this. It’s powerful how certain people leave such a lasting imprint on who we become. I’m glad the post brought you back to those moments. And you’re absolutely right, the difference between building alone and building with a coach is night and day. The stability, the guidance, and the momentum all change. I appreciate your perspective, and I’m grateful you took the time to reflect along with me.
Hey Ernie!
I love how you tied real-life coaching from your dad, grandpa, and even your old boss into what coaching looks like in business. It’s so true, most of the lessons that stick with us don’t come from formal training, they come from people who quietly show us the way. I’m in that middle stage of my own marketing journey, and having guidance has made a huge difference for me too. Really enjoying this series and how each pillar builds on the next. Looking forward to the next part!
Hi Meredith – I really appreciate that. It means a lot. You’re exactly right, the lessons that stay with us usually come from the people who simply lived the example, not the ones who gave formal instructions. I’m glad to hear guidance has made a difference in your own journey too. It’s amazing how much lighter the path becomes when someone walks it with you. Thank you for following along with the series. The next part builds on this one in a big way.