I have several coaches, mentors, people to check in with. I cannot begin to tell you how much they add to my professional life, and even personal life, as they have become my friends. Why would I (you) want a coach or a team of coaches?

1. We can’t know everything. Two heads are you know what. They really are. And we all have blind sides, and we all have stuff we knew, but forgot. A coach can give us a heads up on our blind sides, and remind us of the stuff we forgot.
2. My guess is that you are an innovative spirit, working at the cutting edge to create an amazing life for yourself. When you are working in uncommon territory, there are always going to be unknowns. Two or more people thinking and strategizing about the unknown is infinitely better than imagining you are going to think of all the bases to cover yourself.
3. Accountability. It is simply priceless to have somebody who cares about your progress, your challenges and your successes, checking in, motivating you, asking the hard questions your friends won’t ask you, giving you a little kick in the pants when you deserve it, and giving you a heartfelt handshake and man-hug when you nail it. Seriously.
4. If you hire somebody who has had demonstrated success in life, and you think “Damn, I would like to have some of what he has going in his life”, you have found a role model, which is priceless. Not a guru, but somebody who can say “I wanted what you want, and I went out and figured out how to get it.” THAT kind of story has great credibility. Nobody wants to hire a personal trainer that weighs three ten and who prescribes activities or exercises he cannot or will not do himself. Not very inspiring. You want to feel inspired by a coach.Look at their life. See if they have manifested something that inspires you. Ask them to show you the money, and, more importantly, the joy in their life, the career success, the special relationships–whatever it is that you want in your life.