Flash forward to your 87th birthday. As you’re blowing out the candles on the cake, do you look back on your career and have regrets?

Do you wonder what you could’ve done differently?

No one wants to look back and question what could’ve been. So, how can you make sure you maximize your potential?

The answer is to find a coach.

A lot of people have a mentor, but they don’t have a coach.

I’m not dissing mentors in any way. Mentors are great. They impart knowledge, share their own experiences, and give you a vision for your career.

But a mentor is not a coach.

The difference between a mentor and a coach is this: sometimes you will hate your coach.    

In high school, I had two amazing wrestling coaches. They got me into the best shape of my life, helping me achieve more than I ever could’ve imagined.

But to be perfectly honest, I often hated them during all of this.

When someone is pushing you out of your comfort zone, testing the limits of your abilities and driving you to do even better, you’re not going to like it. 

A great coach helps you confront your weaknesses.   

Your coach should be supportive, but they should also have those tough conversations with you when they notice you’re falling short.

They should call you out when you seem to be getting comfortable instead of testing your limits.

And they should point out the things you can’t see about yourself. When you’re in the picture, you can’t see the frame. A coach can see the frame and tell you what needs to change, because it’s their job to bring out the best in you.

Your coach doesn’t have to be a drill sergeant, either.  

A great coach knows the best way to motivate YOU specifically. Some people are motivated by a kick in the pants; other people need a pat on the back.

Your coach should know you well enough to discern what fuels your motivation.

(Important: Your coach is not your source of motivation. They just know how to draw out your best work.)

So, where can you find a great coach?  

Look around your office for someone who gets you. It should be someone you admire, trust, and respect.

Choose someone who has experience coaching, not just mentoring. Interview potential coaches with questions like:

• Who have you helped develop their careers?
• How did you go about coaching them?
• Why would you be a good fit for me and my business?

If you want to have the best career you can have, you can’t go it alone.  

Almost no one can push themselves as hard as it takes to bring out their best.

Almost no one is self-aware enough to recognize behaviors that need to change—and know how to change them.

A good coach is crucial. So go out and find one now, so you never have to look back with regrets later.

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Matt Mittman and Eric Rehling are the owners of RE/MAX Ready in Conshohocken, PA. See articles from them about being all of the chiefs your company needs, creating a positive client experience, assessing a prospective home, making the boring choice, diversifying your workweek, creating the best possible offer for your client, the importance of inefficient communication, the Eagles, thriving during your busy season, magic wands, good training, measuring profitability, routines, taking the right kinds of risks, real experience of being a real estate agent, communication styles, building an audience, and more.