Leading a major sports agency to coaching entrepreneurs, I’ve discovered a fundamental truth about success: the fastest way to achieve your goals is through relationships with others.
This principle is deceptively simple yet profoundly effective. There are really only two paths to accelerate your journey to success, and both involve other people.
The Power of Asking for Help
The first path is straightforward but requires humility: find someone who has already achieved what you want and ask them for help. This approach cuts through years of trial and error.
When I was building my career in sports management, I didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, I sought out mentors who had already built successful agencies. Their guidance helped me avoid countless pitfalls and accelerated my progress exponentially.
Too many people let pride stand in their way. They believe asking for help shows weakness or that they should figure everything out independently. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The most successful people I know are often the most willing to seek guidance.
Consider these benefits of seeking help from those who’ve achieved what you want:
- Access to proven strategies rather than theoretical approaches
- Awareness of common pitfalls before you encounter them
- Connections to valuable networks you wouldn’t otherwise access
- Accountability from someone who understands the journey
The key is approaching these potential mentors with genuine respect and specific questions. Vague requests rarely yield valuable guidance.
The Reciprocal Path: Giving to Receive
The second path might seem counterintuitive, but it is equally powerful: find someone you can help achieve their goals. By becoming instrumental in another person’s success, you often find yourself advancing toward your own objectives.
This approach has been central to my own success. When I focused on helping athletes and clients achieve their dreams, my own career flourished. The relationships, skills, and reputation I built through service became the foundation for my achievements.
Giving help creates several powerful dynamics:
- You build a reputation as someone who adds value
- You develop skills through practical application
- You create relationships based on genuine contribution
- You establish reciprocity that often returns multiplied
- You gain access to networks through your service
The beauty of this approach is that it works regardless of where you currently stand. Even if you feel you have little to offer, everyone has some value they can provide to others.
Why These Approaches Work
Both paths work because they leverage the fundamental truth that success rarely happens in isolation. The myth of the self-made person ignores the reality that achievement is almost always collaborative.
When you ask for help, you’re not just getting information—you’re getting wisdom distilled from years of experience. When you give help, you’re not just being altruistic—you’re building relationships and skills that serve your own journey.
I’ve seen countless entrepreneurs struggle unnecessarily by trying to figure everything out alone. Meanwhile, those who embrace these relationship-based approaches often achieve in months what takes others years.
Putting This Into Practice
If you’re serious about accelerating your path to success, start by identifying specific people who are where you want to be. Approach them with thoughtful questions and genuine appreciation for their time.
Simultaneously, look for opportunities to help others on their journeys. This might mean offering your skills, connections, or simply your encouragement and support.
The beauty of these approaches is that they compound over time. Each relationship builds on the last, creating a network that can propel you toward your goals faster than you might imagine.
Remember, success is rarely a solo journey. The fastest path to your destination almost always runs through relationships with others. Whether you’re seeking guidance or offering help, these human connections are the true accelerators of achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I approach someone successful for mentorship?
Be specific and respectful of their time. Research them thoroughly beforehand, prepare targeted questions, and make it clear you value their unique expertise. Offer something in return if possible, even if it’s just your genuine gratitude and a promise to pay it forward.
Q: What if I don’t feel I have anything valuable to offer others?
Everyone has something to contribute. You might offer your time, enthusiasm, a fresh perspective, or specialized knowledge from your background. Sometimes simply being a good listener or connector is tremendously valuable. Start small and focus on being genuinely helpful rather than calculating returns.
Q: How do I balance asking for help with being self-reliant?
Seeking guidance doesn’t mean abdicating responsibility. The most effective approach combines learning from others with taking ownership of your journey. Use mentors’ advice as a starting point, then adapt it to your unique situation and take decisive action on your own.
Q: Can these relationship-based approaches work in any industry?
Absolutely. While the specifics may vary, the fundamental principle of accelerating success through relationships applies universally. I’ve seen these approaches work effectively in various fields, including sports, entertainment, technology, healthcare, education, and many others.
Q: How do I maintain authentic relationships while pursuing my goals?
Focus on creating genuine value rather than transactional exchanges. Approach relationships with curiosity and a desire to understand others’ needs. Be transparent about your goals, but also genuinely interested in theirs. The most powerful professional relationships are those where both parties genuinely care about each other’s success.
