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Growth certainly takes effort, discipline, and the willingness to push through. But a different perspective can show new opportunities to grow. Left to our own, we tend to repeat the same patterns, make the same assumptions, and carry the same pressure. Having a mentor, like a caddy in golf, and being vulnerable enough to listen, can show us new ways to look at things and inspire us to reach new heights we might not have known we were capable of.

The dream begins with a teacher who

believes in you and leads you to the

next plateau, sometimes poking you

with a sharp stick called truth.

— Dan Rather

Watch "Who's Your Caddy?" on the Educators Among Us Podcast

I want you to be nice to yourself. Give yourself some grace. This advice was given by Joe Greiner as caddy for Akshay Bhatia at The Players Championship.

Expectations were very high after he won the week before at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, overcoming a five-stroke deficit to win in the dramatic playoff.

Rather than sticking with his habits, Bhatia started thinking about being great.

In this unusually candid video, we see the fragility of perspective and mindset.

Coaches have the power to turn

potential into reality through guidance,

encouragement, and belief.

— Lou Holtz

Sometimes we all sound like Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront", declaring sadly: I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.

Frustration and failure are the usual results of focusing our thinking on what should be instead of staying in the moment and sticking with practiced habits.

What a blessing to have people who will speak into our lives, providing words of encouragement, checking our perspective, and improving decision-making.

Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in the future.

— Proverbs 19:20

So, who's your caddy? That person(s) who walks the journey with you to help decipher the situation and choose the best approach to win? A great mentor is hard to find, but some great achievements are only possible through expert guidance that helps carry the load and stay out of the hazards.

Humility opens the door to a mentor who can become our shortcut to success. While often elusive among educators, that's valuable vulnerability for victory.

Learn from a mentor. And be nice to yourself as you become the best version of you.

Listen to "Who's Your Caddy?" on the Educators Among Us Podcast