Who’s On Your Board?

Back in the summer of 2011, my dad, with his connections in north Fulton County’s business community, graciously took the time to set up several lunch meetings for me with some of the area’s most respected business leaders.  I was a rising senior in high school at the time and was eager to begin exploring various avenues of business and leadership.  I was blown away at every leader’s intentional wisdom and encouragement they provided me with.  While I would need 10 blogs worth of space to go through all the things that impacted me through the experience, there is one particular piece of advice that I have been consistently implementing ever since: have a personal board of advisors.

At first, it may sound a bit corny as you might picture yourself at the end of a long board room table with a bunch of older people giving you random bits of advice.  This idea of a personal board of advisors, however, is much less concrete in a physical sense.  Instead, it represents a mindset you have about intentionally seeking wisdom in order to learn, grow, and keep a tight focus on the things that matter most to you.  In fact, you usually never tell someone that they are on your “board” (as your “board members” will certainly change from time to time), but simply make the effort to meet with them on a regular basis to sharpen the saw and refocus your vision.

Here are three advantages I’ve found to having a personal board of advisors:

 1) It helps define the areas that are most important in your life.

If you are going to be intentional in seeking the wisdom of others who are further down the road, you will first have to evaluate the areas of your life that play a critical role in your life plan.  These are the areas supporting your purpose, your vision, and your mission.  If you are unable to clearly relate each member back to your purpose here on earth, you may not be investing your time in a way that will maximize your potential to have an impact.

2) It will provide insight and encouragement into these specific areas.

Seeking wisdom takes some effort.  However, I’m convinced that when you identify the right mentors who are genuinely interested in investing into your life, you will gain a tremendous amount of knowledge and will walk away from each meeting energized.  I know this has been the case for me.  From choosing the right major, to creating a solid workout program, each mentor brings a specific avenue of guidance to the table.

3) It helps you see the bigger picture.

As high school and college students, it is extraordinarily easy to become bogged down in the ordinary routine of school and other involvements, often losing sight of the larger picture- the reason we’re here in the first place.  Sitting down with someone who has walked the same path lets you peer into the future, clearly recognizing the role your day-to-day actions play in forming the habits that will shape who you become and the kind of legacy you will leave behind.

I typically stick to just a few simple, yet specific areas in which I feel matter most to me.  My focus is on spiritual growth, career development, health and exercise, and academics.  I’ll usually have one key board member for each area, with a couple supporting members who I meet with less often.  I am always sure to thank them for their time, as they have intentionally carved a block out of their busy schedule to sit down and invest in me.  It’s not an obligation of theirs, but rather a personal choice to invest in the next generation.

Who’s on your board?