Sitting in a windowless holding cell at the bottom of some government building, the spy’s defense attorney looks at him and asks,

“Aren’t you worried?”

The spy’s response:

“Would it help?”

This question and response take place several times in the Cold War era film, Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks.

This guy’s response to the attorney’s question struck me. In fact, I laughed out loud in astonishment.

I mean, come on. His head is pretty much on the chopping block and he has the wits to say, “worrying about the situation isn’t going to help my cause, so why bother.”

We encounter a variety of obstacles, challenges, setbacks on a daily basis – most far less ominous than the spy’s – and yet we get bent out of shape, break into a cold sweat or mentally check out. But what good does it do?

I was at a seminar recently and the presenter was talking about the importance of being mindful of our response when we find ourselves in a tricky situation.

He said, “the space between the situation and our response can be either heaven or hell.” He attributed it to someone, but I cannot recall the person’s name. Regardless, it is pretty friggin profound.

The space between the obstacle and our response can propel us forward, or it can do the opposite.

So, perhaps we should ask similar questions when we begin to worry:

Will worrying accomplish anything?
Will worrying about an obstacle move me closer to overcoming it?
Will worrying move me further into my future or keep me stuck in the past?

What are tips and tricks you use to overcome doubt, worry, fear?

A few years ago, I was attending an awards ceremony for some of the top sales people of a Fortune 100 company.

The evening was all about celebrating the achievements of some its top sales people, while also honoring those who had been with the company for more than 20 years. It was a fun event with several hundred people in attendance.

Dinner, drinks and schmoozing was only interrupted once the awards ceremony started.

There were many awards handed out and pictures taken with the CEO, but they always saved the most prestigious award to the very end. That’s where things got, shall we say, awkward.

Pause.

Before I get to what happened next, let me tell you something. The company first confirms all recipients will be attending the event. The company puts the recipients up in some very nice accommodations and seats them in a place of honor at the event. Suffice it to say, the company went above and beyond to ensure the awards and accolades were given to the right people.

Back to the story.

The time came to give out the last award for the highest producing sales person. The CEO is centerstage. The MC announces the recipient’s name once…twice…and a third time.

The recipient is nowhere to be found.

So, the CEO began to walk off the stage, obviously annoyed, but stopped short of the exit. He paused and then walked up to the microphone and said:

“Sometimes, life is just about showing up.”

It was an awkward moment for everyone involved but the CEO’s statement is a simple and yet important principle – do what you say you’re going to do, even if it means just showing up.

Mount Everest. Its summit stands 29,029 feet above the valley floor, earning it the title of the “earth’s highest mountain.” Many adventurers invest tens of thousands of dollars on this one expedition. They train for months, and in some cases years, in advance of attempting to summit. They exchange the comfort and luxury of home for the unpredictable, extreme conditions hurled at them – avalanches, frostbite, altitude sickness and even death. Those fortunate enough to summit consider it to be a pinnacle moment in their climbing careers. Most of the time they are pictured on the summit with their fellow mountaineers and one of the locals, commonly known as a Sherpa.

When it comes to high altitude climbing, many mountaineers look to the skills and expertise of the Sherpa. He knows the mountains. He knows the conditions. He understands the threats and opportunities. After all, it is his home. The right Sherpa enhances the probability of successfully reaching the summit, and more importantly, surviving the descent. As such, the most important relationship the climbers develop while on this expedition is with their Sherpa.

It is not a coincidence that people often equate a business mentor to a kind of Sherpa. After all, a mentor can help bridge the gap from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow by sharing experiences of success, as well as failure. We all have dreams and goals to elevate our businesses and our careers to the next level. And while no one will be successful for us, developing a relationship with an experienced mentor can help produce exponential results in our businesses.

Here are three simple ways a mentor can accelerate your success:

Show you the path
This is undoubtedly the most significant way a mentor can accelerate your success. She is an expert at his craft. She knows what she is doing and understands what you are attempting to achieve. It is likely that she has accomplished a similar goal more than once.

Help you understand the environment

A seemingly beautiful day on Mount Everest may erupt into an avalanche, requiring the adventurers to think on their feet and adapt their plans to the new environment. Similarly, operating a successful financial services business requires one to be constantly aware of the changing environment. A trusted mentor can help you quickly adjust your plans when the environment demands you make a pivot. This _{understanding} will not only enhance your success in life and business, but it may also prevent game changing pitfalls along the way.

Help to quickly identify opportunities and threats

The fact your mentor knows the path and understands the environment, enables her to give invaluable feedback that directly addresses areas where you have opportunities for growth. On Mount Everest, it might be making sure your oxygen tank works properly or the ladders that span the fissures in the ice are secured. In our business, it might be helping you refine your sales process, improve the language used to describe solutions, integrate new technology into your practice or introduce you to resources to continue your professional education.

It has been said that “successful people make a habit of doing the things unsuccessful people will not do.” This includes finding and building a relationship with a mentor. Give yourself permission to seek the experience of someone who might see the untapped potential you possess. He or she will genuinely be concerned about your long term success and will generously share his or her wisdom, knowledge and expertise. Why? Zig Ziglar said it best, “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else believed they could.” Your mentor is simply paying it forward!