The Power of Mentorship in High Performance Living

Mentorship: The Missing Multiplier in High Performance Living

When people ask me what made the biggest difference in my life—as an athlete, a coach, an NCAA wrestling official, and now as a High Performance coach—the answer is simple and consistent:

It's Mentorship.

Not motivation.
Not talent.
Not even work ethic alone.

Mentorship has been the quiet multiplier behind nearly every meaningful step forward I’ve taken. And when you look closely, effective mentorship aligns perfectly with the three pillars of the AOC Model: Awareness, Ownership, and Commitment.

Awareness: Seeing What You Can’t See Alone

One of the greatest values of a mentor is perspective.

Early in my wrestling career, I believed I was working hard and doing “enough.” It wasn’t until I was exposed to athletes who were operating at a higher level—and guided by people who had already walked the path—that my awareness truly expanded. This has also been true in both coaching and officiating, as well as in my personal life.

A mentor helps you:

• See blind spots you didn’t know existed

• Understand the gap between where you are and where you want to be

• Separate effort from effectiveness

This isn’t about criticism. It’s about clarity.

In High Performance Living, awareness is the starting point—but awareness rarely happens in isolation. Mentors act as mirrors, reflecting both strengths and limitations with honesty and care.

Ownership: Transferring Responsibility, Not Dependency

Great mentors don’t create dependence—they create ownership.

The most impactful mentors in my life never did the work for me. Instead, they asked better questions, challenged my assumptions, and expected me to take responsibility for my growth.

True mentorship:

• Encourages decision-making, not excuses

• Reinforces standards instead of shortcuts

• Pushes ownership back to the individual

This aligns directly with the Ownership pillar of the AOC Model. Growth accelerates when someone believes in you enough to hold you accountable—but not rescue you.

At its best, mentorship says:
“I’ll walk with you, but you still have to walk.”

Commitment: Raising the Standard Over Time

Commitment isn’t just about starting—it’s about sustaining.

Mentors help raise the bar over time by modeling consistency, discipline, and resilience. Watching someone live the standards they talk about makes commitment tangible, not theoretical.

Through mentorship, commitment becomes:

• Less about motivation and more about identity

• A long-term mindset instead of a short-term push

• A daily practice rooted in standards, not feelings

In my own journey, the mentors who had the greatest impact weren’t always the loudest voices—but they were consistent, steady, and fully committed to their craft. That example mattered.

Mentorship Is Not Reserved for the Elite

One of the biggest misconceptions is that mentorship is only for elite athletes or executives.

In reality, everyone benefits from mentorship, and at different times, we may play both roles—mentor and mentee.

High Performance Living isn’t about perfection. It’s about intentional growth. Mentorship simply accelerates that process by aligning awareness, ownership, and commitment with real-world experience.

A Simple Question to Consider

If you’re serious about growth, ask yourself:

• Who is helping me see what I can’t see?

• Who challenges me to take ownership instead of staying comfortable?

• Who models the level of commitment I aspire to?

And just as importantly:

• Who might be learning from me—whether I realize it or not?

Because mentorship isn’t just something you receive.
It’s something you live.