Frequently, business advisors play a second role as confidant, coach or mentor to clients. One reason is that the advisor is outside the client’s other normal spheres. The advisor is not an employee, personal friend, or family member.

A client is able to relate his or her true feelings and fears to an independent person who listens objectively, offering the client the chance to bounce issues and ideas off of an understanding ear. The advisor may also contribute some new ideas or perspectives that the client may find helpful.

Over the past twenty years as a consultant and business advisor, clients have said that they value the objective, understanding ear as highly as the specific marketing and business projects we have undertaken together. As an advisor, I also derive great satisfaction from those close relationships. I never fail to learn from my clients as well. We both benefit from that special relationship!

I make these points to explain why I recently joined the University of Texas at Dallas “Power of Two” mentoring program. The Power of Two matches experienced business executives with honor students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The program’s primary purpose is to give top students the extra opportunity learn how to apply their education to real world situations. Students can explore their ideas, ask questions, and supplement their formal education with another's experience.

As a mentor, I expect that the learning will go both ways. Many years of practical experience also means that a person's formal education happened well in the past. Consultants need to stay current and I plan to use my new mentoring work to enhance my own knowledge base. Understanding what it takes to achieve ‘honors’ status, I am sure that the relationship will be built upon mutual learning and respect.

The person assigned to me is a full-time MBA student in the university’s graduate school of business. We have not yet met, but I already know that she is an international chess champion from Mongolia and works with the university there. It has been years since I attempted to learn chess and I was never very good at the game. Going in, I am positive that I will be challenged by someone with exceptional intelligence!

Business owner, executive, manager, or business advisor, it pays to have your own confidant(s)...people you can trust with your private thoughts and concerns. I think of it this way, even Tiger Woods, tennis champions, and the star NFL quarterbacks have coaches who watch, listen, observe, and offer advice. Having a coach, confidant, or mentor is definitely not a sign of weakness, rather it shows maturity and a keen understanding of the “Power of Two.”