#018 - You Are Not Alone. In Business, Too.
Most of us run our businesses in a state of semi-consciousness, reacting to the loudest fire instead of following a clear internal compass. But the most successful leaders I know operate differently. They move through the world with their eyes wide open, fully aware of their own patterns, triggers, and limits. They understand a fundamental truth: to build anything of lasting value, you must first build a deep, unshakeable understanding of yourself. You cannot lead others effectively until you have learned to lead the person in the mirror.
This self-knowledge is the catalyst for everything else. Life is beautiful, but it is a beauty that only reveals itself when you surround yourself with the proper people. I put "just" in quotes because finding them is a lifelong discipline. You have to keep searching for those who fit. Not just the specialists who sharpen your professional edge, but the loved ones and friends who keep your soul intact. It is a constant filtering of your environment to ensure that the people around you reflect the person you are becoming, rather than the person you used to be.
The same rigor applies to business. Building teams with carefully selected members is essential. You cannot scale a vision on your own, but you have to build yourself simultaneously.
You are the foundation. If the foundation is cracked, the most talented team in the world can't save the structure. Building yourself means acknowledging that you don't have all the answers. It means moving from a state of "I must do everything" to "I must become the person capable of leading others to do everything."
For a long time, I didn't know that.
Looking back on my early career, I realize I had many mentors, but they were all "unofficial". They were my bosses. I was incredibly fortunate. I worked under people who challenged me, protected me, and taught me the ropes. But looking back, I see that I was relying on luck. I was lucky that my superiors were great people with wisdom to share.
But you don't have to leave your growth to luck. You can approach this more strategically.
In the world of professional sports, no elite athlete, no matter how naturally gifted, competes without a coach. Yet, in business, we often treat mentorship as a "nice to have" or something that should happen organically over coffee.
This is a mistake.
If you want to move faster and avoid the traps that have caught thousands before you, get a coach or mentor today. Don't wait for a boss to take an interest in your career. Take ownership of your own evolution. A strategic mentor doesn't just give you answers. They give you a new set of eyes. They help you see the blind spots you didn't even know existed.
We often think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. We think it means we aren't "there" yet. In reality, the most successful people I know are those most obsessed with learning from others. They understand the concept of leverage. Not just financial leverage, but intellectual and experiential leverage.
They understand that they are standing on the shoulders of giants.
In my latest blog post, I dive deeper into this philosophy. I talk about why we need to stop trying to reinvent the wheel and start looking at the maps drawn by those who walked the path before us. We discuss the power of community, the humility required to learn, and why your "giants" are the most valuable asset you have.
You are not alone. You don't have to be.
Read the full article here: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.
To your growth,
Piotr
