This episode is a special one—because if you’ve ever invested in a mentor, joined a mastermind, or said yes to a membership like the Strategy Lab, this might be the difference between getting information and getting a real transformation.
I want to flip the usual conversation.
We talk a lot about how to choose a mentor.
But we don’t talk nearly enough about how to be a great mentee.
And that matters—because mentorship only works if you actually use it.
I’ve had a lot of mentors in my life: business, mindset, entrepreneurship, personal growth. Some were incredible. Some… weren’t the right fit. But every single one taught me something. And over the years—especially inside long-term masterminds—I’ve learned exactly what separates the people who get massive ROI from those who quietly spin their wheels.
Let’s talk about it.
First: Choose a Mentor You Actually Respect
Before anything else, mentorship starts with alignment.
Your mentor doesn’t just need the strategy you want—they need to have:
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A business model you respect
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Values you align with
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A way of operating you could actually see yourself adopting
Because here’s the truth:
Your mentor is going to teach you how they do things.
If the way they sell feels icky…
If their lifestyle feels misaligned…
If you secretly judge how they run their business…
That friction will show up fast.
Respect is foundational. Without it, the relationship won’t work.
Mentorship Requires Letting Go of Control
This is especially hard if you’re a coach.
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re:
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Competent
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Experienced
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Used to being the one with the answers
Which means stepping into the mentee role can feel uncomfortable.
I get it.
When I joined my long-term mastermind five years ago, I made a deal with myself:
I will be honest. I will be vulnerable. I will not pretend I have it all together.
That decision changed everything.
Because pretending you don’t need help is the fastest way to make mentorship useless.
Vulnerability Is Not Weakness—It’s Leverage
The more successful you become, the harder vulnerability gets.
At early stages, it’s easy to say:
“This sucks.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
But once you’ve built something real, there’s a quiet pressure to:
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Always have the answers
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Never struggle publicly
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Never admit something isn’t working
That’s ego. And ego blocks growth.
Every single business—no matter the level—has problems.
The goal isn’t to avoid them.
The goal is to solve better problems.
And you can’t solve what you won’t name.
Stop Fighting for Your Limitations
This one is big.
When you’re being coached—especially in hot seats—you are not allowed to say:
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“That wouldn’t work for me.”
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“I already tried that.”
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“Yeah, but…”
Even if you think you’re right.
Why?
Because the moment you shut ideas down, people stop trying to help you.
Instead:
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Write it down
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Stay open
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Let it sit
Something that doesn’t apply now might be exactly what you need a year from now. I’ve lived this firsthand. Business models I once swore I’d never use are now the exact solutions that fit my life and goals.
Openness compounds.
Go In With a Clear Goal—or You’ll Chase Everything
One of the fastest ways to waste mentorship is shiny object syndrome.
If you don’t know where you’re going, every idea sounds tempting.
Before you start a mentorship, ask yourself:
What one thing would have to happen for this year to feel like a success?
Revenue?
A new offer?
More leverage?
A team hire?
Clarity creates discipline.
When you hear a new idea, ask:
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Is this for me?
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Is this for me right now?
If the answer is no—or not yet—park it.
Staying focused is a skill.
Don’t Do the Things You Hate When Clients Do Them
This is simple—but powerful.
Think about behaviors you hate as a coach:
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Ghosting
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Passive-aggressiveness
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Complaining without communicating
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Gossiping in groups
Now don’t do those things to your own mentor.
If you’re quiet but fine—say that.
If something feels off—communicate directly.
If you have feedback—share it respectfully.
Integrity matters.
If you don’t feel safe giving feedback to a mentor, that’s information.
But silence and resentment help no one.
Be a Team Player (Abundance > Competition)
Great mentorship containers are collaborative—not competitive.
Especially in fitness and nutrition, people have different ideologies:
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Macros
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Intuitive eating
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CrossFit
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Bodybuilding
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Strength-first
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Lifestyle-first
None of these are “wrong.”
There is room for all of it.
Scarcity thinking creates tension.
Abundance creates expansion.
Lift others up.
Collaborate.
Share opportunities.
Other people’s success does not threaten yours.
The Real ROI of Mentorship
Mentorship isn’t about being told what to do.
It’s about:
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Perspective
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Possibility
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Accountability
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Being challenged
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Being seen
The people who get the most out of mentorship are the ones who:
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Stay open
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Stay honest
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Stay focused
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Communicate clearly
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And show up with integrity
That’s it.
That’s the work.
And if you do that, mentorship doesn’t just change your business—it changes how you operate as a leader.
Which, in the long run, is worth far more than any tactic.