| Imagine if you will that you are NASCAR driver. (Now | | | | (and probably a great agent, too!). Great coaches and |
| don't overextend this metaphor-just go with the | | | | players can do nothing without facilities and the |
| flow!) You start the race and put the pedal to the | | | | people to take care of them; without doctors and |
| metal. The crowd is flying by in a whirl of colors. | | | | nutritionists, physical therapists and other sports |
| You're exhilarated by the speed. You're starting to | | | | medicine professionals; without team owners and |
| pass some of the other drivers. You are feeling | | | | financial backing from advertisers. The list could go on |
| pretty confident about this race. "Eat my dust!" you | | | | endlessly. |
| yell to no one in particular. Just when you're at the | | | | You see, everything you do is inherently connected |
| top of your game, you suddenly realize your fuel is | | | | to a team: eating your food, reading your |
| getting low. You pull over to the side, turn off the | | | | newspaper, buying a home, driving to work. Think |
| car, get out, refuel it yourself, get back in and | | | | about all the teams involved in each of these |
| restart the car, and off you go once again, having | | | | situations. In fact, the world is so dependent on |
| lost valuable time. | | | | connections that we cannot function without teams. |
| A few laps later and things are looking up. You're | | | | And yet when it comes to money that is exactly |
| starting to cut down some of the lead that the other | | | | what many of us try to do. We think we know |
| cars have had on you. Next thing you know you | | | | everything we need to know about handling our |
| blow a tire, which you had forgotten to check at | | | | finances, and no way are we going to pay someone |
| your refueling pit stop. So once again you exit the | | | | to help us, even if it nets us more in the long run. |
| race, turn off the car, get out, change the tire, get | | | | Like the winners of the world, the wealthy of the |
| back in and reenter the race. Now you're only 30 laps | | | | world assemble teams to help them build their |
| behind, but you think, "This baby's got power-no | | | | financial futures and keep them. The wealthy see |
| problem!" You hit the gas pedal and try to make up | | | | their team as an investment, an investment to |
| for lost time. After only a few laps, though, you're | | | | protect their investments, so to speak. Their team |
| low in fuel-again! Once more you exit the race and | | | | consists of (but is not limited to): a good honest |
| refuel your car yourself. As you watch your | | | | attorney, a tax consultant, an accountant, and many |
| competitors flying by, you are beginning to realize | | | | others whose job it is to keep them [the wealthy] |
| that this is a race you cannot win. | | | | wealthy. |
| You compare yourself to the winner of the race and | | | | So, how would you go about building a team whose |
| wonder what the difference is. Is it your car? No, it's | | | | job it is to lead you on to financial victory? The first |
| the same model as his. Is it his accessories? Wrong | | | | place to start is a mentor, who is probably the most |
| again. You've got everything he does. Is it your skills? | | | | important part of your team. A mentor is someone |
| Who knows? You seem to drive just as well as he | | | | or something that guides you along your path to |
| does. Then what seems to be lacking? He must have | | | | wealth (and presumably he or she has already walked |
| something you don't. You rack your brain and finally | | | | that road). Mentors don't have to be actual people |
| conclude that the only thing he has that you don't is | | | | (although this is extremely useful for feedback and |
| a "small" thing called a TEAM. His team takes care of | | | | one-on-one support). Mentors can also be books and |
| his refueling and tire changing and all those necessary | | | | other information. Experiences can also serve as |
| details, allowing him to focus on the task at hand - | | | | mentors. You may have many mentors at different |
| winning. You, on the other hand, have been trying to | | | | points in your life; often they show up just when you |
| do it all yourself. | | | | seem to need them. Mentors can also be key to |
| A team makes all the difference between winning | | | | introducing you to other potential team members, |
| and losing. The losers of this world are those people | | | | such as attorneys, planners, consultants, investors, |
| who take it upon themselves to do everything | | | | accountants, etc. |
| single-handedly. These are the | | | | Using a team to achieve your goals is really much |
| do-it-yourself-at-all-costs folks. They believe that | | | | simpler than doing it yourself. Nobody can know |
| nobody can do things as well as they can. Winners, | | | | everything about everything, which is why there are |
| however, understand the importance of synergy (1+1 | | | | different jobs for different people. There is no way |
| = more than 2). Winners assemble a team. | | | | you could learn in your lifetime everything you need |
| How do you win the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, World | | | | to know to achieve financial success if you try to |
| Series, NBA Championship, World Cup, or any other | | | | learn it all by yourself, one piece of information at a |
| athletic event for that matter? With a team | | | | time. Using the collective resources of your team will |
| consisting of coaches, players, staff, and a whole lot | | | | greatly simplify your life and infinitely expand your |
| of other supporting people. Nobody wins on his own. | | | | returns. Truly, a team is the only way to win. GO, |
| A great coach is nothing without great players. A | | | | TEAM, GO! |
| great player gets nowhere without a great coach | | | | |