Most gym owners hire the wrong mentor for the wrong reasons.
Some look for the cheapest option.
Others pick someone because they see “this person really cares” in a Google review.
“Cheap” doesn’t mean “good.” And caring isn’t enough.
You need someone who will get you results.
Here, I’ll show you:
- The difference between mentors and coaches.
- How to find the right mentor for yourself.
- How to work with that mentor to get the results you want.
Mentors vs. Coaches
People use the terms “business coach” and “business mentor” interchangeably. They’re not the same.
Coaches are tactical.
They help you overcome short-term obstacles. They apply tools. They fix specific problems.
For example, a coach can help you improve your ad campaign or handle a hard conversation with a staff member.
Mentors are strategic.
They take a higher-level view and strategically guide you to ascend to new tiers of entrepreneurship.
For example, a mentor helps you build your entire marketing plan and create hiring, training and evaluation systems for staff.
Coaches help you improve what you’re already doing, and mentors help you change your business.
At Two-Brain, we wear both hats. We mentor you to set your strategy, then we coach you through the execution.
You follow this same plan as a fitness coach: Your clients need programs, but they also need coaching so they do the work every day.
The same is true in business.
The Mentor Match Exercise
Before you hire a mentor, you need to know what kind of mentor will works for you. Deep down, you already know—but you might not realize it.
First, pass on personality tests. They’re interesting, but they don’t tell you how you get results.
Here’s a better exercise:
Draw three columns and label them Wins, Coach and Lever.
Step 1: List Wins
Think about three or four times in your life when you were proud of something you had accomplished.
Sports. School. Fitness. Work. Sobriety. A major project.
Write down each accomplishment.
Step 2: List Coaches
For each win, ask:
- Who helped you get there?
- Who were you trying to impress?
- Who coached you to the result?
Write those names down.
Step 3: Identify Levers
Now describe each coach’s leadership style in one or two words.
Was the coach a questioner?
A cheerleader?
A drill sergeant?
An explainer?
I thought one of my proudest wins came under a strict coach, but when I really thought about the moment, it was produced by another coach—an explainer—who helped me understand hockey by using a dime and a nickel to explain offside in hockey.
I realized that style works for me: I work best with someone who can break things into tiny steps and explain them clearly.
Look for common patterns in your list. Who do you respond to?
Many people think they need a drill sergeant. Maybe you do—but the exercise might reveal that other styles work even better for you.
Step 4: Find a Expert
Next, ask yourself a big question: What do I want next year?
But go deeper with follow-ups to get to the root.
You might say, “I want my gym to make $300,000.”
Why?
“So I can take home $70,000.”
Why?
“So I feel like I’m contributing to my family.”
That was me in 1999.
When you get to the real motivation, ask another key question: Who has achieved this specific result?
Don’t chase tactics.
Don’t say, “I need 300 members, so I’ll find someone with 300 members.”
Find someone who achieved your real goal.
The fitness industry is full of tactical experts who haven’t achieved what you want and unsuccessful gym owners selling “marketing secrets.”
Instead of falling for fluff, identify two or three people who have achieved the real outcome you want.
Then call them.
Step 5: Call the Expert
Calling is a key step because success alone isn’t enough.
You must ask:
- Can this person coach you to reach your goal or will they just explain what they did?
- How did they overcome your exact challenge?
- How would they approach your situation?
Ask specific questions.
Non-Negotiables in a Mentor
Here are the three must-haves when making your final selection:
1. They’ve Done What You Want to Do
They’ve been where you are and gotten where you want to go. This is critical.
2. They Must Be Objective
You’re buying objectivity, not cheerleading or camaraderie.
A mentor solves your problems without taking on your panic or pessimism, and a good one will ask questions that frustrate you.
That’s the point.
You don’t need validation or partners in your echo chamber.
You need truth.
3. You Must Make an Appropriate Investment
If you’re shopping for the cheapest mentor, you might as well throw your money in a wood chipper.
The investment in mentorship should make you slightly uncomfortable.
The pain of wasting money must outweigh the pain of doing the work.
If you expect a refund when it gets uncomfortable, you’re not ready.
How to Work With a Mentor
Once you hire a mentor, you need a plan to get results from the relationship.
Here it is:
1. Prioritize Implementation
You’re not hiring a teacher, and you don’t need more information.
You need implementation.
Most gym owners don’t fail because they lack knowledge.
They fail because they don’t execute. A mentor must help you take action.
2. Hire Someone You Want to Emulate
You’ll learn as much from a mentor’s behavior and mentality as you will from their tools.
Lessons are caught, not taught.
So hire someone you want to emulate.
If you don’t respect the mentor or want to model their behavior, you won’t implement their advice. And inaction is unnacceptable.
3. Expect the Mentor to Require You to Change
Good mentors are objective and direct, and they will challenge your assumptions. They’ll tell you things you don’t want to hear because you need to hear them.
If you listen but don’t change, you’re wasting your money.
Most people fail with mentorship not because the advice was wrong but because they didn’t implement the right advice.
If you’re not willing to change, you’re not ready for mentorship.
4. Don’t Expect a Refund
If you think you can just back out and get your money back, you’re probably not ready for a mentor. Don’t waste your time or their time.
A refund mentality says “I’m not committed. I’m keeping one foot out the door. I’m looking for an easy out when things get uncomfortable.”
Secret: The uncomfortable moments produce the real growth. That’s where you need the mentor most.
Why We Built Two-Brain This Way
Yes, this blog sounds like I’m making a case for Two-Brain mentorship.
I am.
But not because we “care more.”
Because we built Two-Brain based on best practices.
- We collect data.
- We work one on one.
- We provide high-frequency support.
- We include group coaching calls. Other people sell this style of coaching for $20,000 a year, but we include it in our program for free because it’s helpful but insufficient for growth by itself.
- We train our mentors extensively.
Right now, you might be saying, “I’ve worked with a mentor before and didn’t get results,” or “I’m in a program right now and they don’t do this stuff.”
There are a lot of mentors and coaches in business. Some have a proven system. Some are good listeners. Some have experience. Some are after an easy buck.
Unfortunately, fakery, wild guesses and BS are too common among the business coaches in fitness.
I’m here to put a stop to that by being a beacon of objectivity and rational thinking.
The truth: We looked at what the best mentors in the world do—and we built Two-Brain to do that.
Not because it’s trendy.
Because it works.
Need Help?
A mentor gives you objectivity.
They show you the shortest path—even if it’s not the easiest path—and help you walk it, step by step.
If you’re ready to talk about mentorship, book a call with my team.
Not ready for that? Check out a host of people who have done what you want to do.
Even if you don’t work with us, I hope this exercise helps you choose the right mentor.
Because the right mentor doesn’t just give you advice.
They change your trajectory.
