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