As a young consultant I really thought I had it all together.  I was getting great ratings, great raises, and wonderful accolades from clients.  Because I (in my own mind) thought I was such hot stuff, I was not active in seeking out advice from more experienced colleagues.  After all, what could they teach me?

As I matured from an inexperienced hot-shot to an experienced manager, I developed a much stronger appreciation for the wisdom my more experienced colleagues could impart.  This appreciation didn’t happen naturally; I had to get my butt chewed off a bunch of times to realize that a wiser and more experienced colleague could help me get through the tough times and learn from my mistakes.  I also needed a wiser colleague to hold a mirror up to my face to help me see my weaknesses.  I needed (and still need) a mentor to help me be more effective as a leader.

Whether for personal or professional reasons, having a mentor to turn to for advice and counsel is a very effective means of transforming knowledge into wisdom.  Before I go any further, let’s get a definition of wisdom in place:

Many people hate their jobs, but see it as a necessary evil if the mortgage is going to get paid and Junior is going to go to med school.  While paying the bills is of utmost importance, it doesn't mean you have to hate your job at the same time. If you're contemplating a career change (or if the current job environment is forcing you into an unplanned career change), give these few tips a look to help you find a new career you'll actually love:

One of my most popular books is Why Don't They Follow Me? 12 Easy Lessons to Boost Your Leadership Skills.   

Why Don't They Follow Me? gives you 12 simple to understand leadership lessons which cut through all the baloney and get you results fast.  A quick read (many of my reviewers have told me they were able to get through in under two hours), Why Don't They Follow Me? cuts to the heart of leadership wisdom and gives you 47 take-aways that you can put into action right away.