There many ways to reach your goals.

You might choose to use top-notch education, workshops, work experience,

training programs, role-playing, and also practice and repetition. There is,

however, no substitute for one-on-one interaction with someone you admire or an

expert in what you are trying to achieve. Choosing a mentor or a coach to help

you achieve your goals and aspirations is very effective and worthwhile.

Choosing to work with a respected mentor or a coaching professional will help

you reach your personal and professional goals more efficiently and effectively,

increasing your effectiveness both on the job and as an individual.

A mentor often works or has

experience within your goal area, though perhaps not at your same company or

anywhere near your location, and has years of experience from which to learn

from. They are someone whose work or accomplishments you admire and would like

to copy in your own goals. The mentor relationship is one that is built on

respect and is completely focused on your professional development and/or

success. He or she can offer fair advice and share wisdom that will allow you to

grow and reach your full potential.

Your mentor can also help you to

avoid mistakes many young professionals make, steer clear of common pitfalls and

serve as an evenhanded symbol of hope with your best interest at heart.

Additionally, a relationship with a mentor helps you to utilize two of the

quickest methods for personal development. These are modeling and emulation. The

success principles that work for one person will usually work for another.

Therefore, as you model and emulate the desired behaviors of your mentor, you

will quickly improve your skill set, expand your professional and business

knowledge and jump-start your results.

A coach, on the other hand, is a

professional whose work is focused on helping you light a fire for your inner

self, your needs, passion and desire to contribute. Basically they coach you to

achieve success. The coach's guidance is more personal and specific, often

providing practical support through challenging situations like dealing with

employees or handling a merger. The results are often quick and dramatic and

considering that most coaching is done primarily on the phone, it's also very

time-efficient. Some of the more-common areas for guidance include helping you

balance your personal and professional life, clarifying and implementing true

values and creating a plan for excelling in the workplace or moving up the

corporate ladder.

Coaching is a one-to-one

relationship between an individual and a professional coach who can assist you

in articulating, prioritizing and achieving your goals. Coaching can help

increase the results the client wants in life, work, spirit and relationships as

well as to overcome obstacles, circumstances and resistance. Coaching is not a

substitute for therapy, nor is it intended for people in emotional

crisis.

The first recommendation is that

you find a mentor or role model. Ideally, this should be someone you actually

know in the business community who will agree to act as your mentor and guide

during this very critical time in your professional development. Choose someone

you admire, who takes a strong stand for what they and you believe in, and who

can share with you some of his or her success secrets. If you can't find a

mentor, pick a role model. This can be someone you don't know personally but has

a high profile you can observe and emulate. Having a role model will give you a

very visible, tangible manifestation of the success you're working toward.

Having that before you, as reality, can be extremely motivating as you work to

craft your professional life to include those attributes and skills you admire

in your role model. If you can't find a mentor or role model locally, search

online, mentoring can be done virtually via the Internet and telephone.

Whether it's personal or career

improvements you're looking for, an effective coach or expert mentor could be

the key to your continued success and long-term career development. Finding one

who will be the best fit for you is a matter of individual preference based on

the goals you're looking to achieve. Regardless of which type of advisor you

seek out, the potential for long-term growth and improvement can be the key to

success and happiness in all aspects of your life.