Welcome to the Brilliance Brief. Every week, we break down leadership, mindset, and personal growth into something real and doable. Expect research-backed insights, a little storytelling, and practical ideas that actually fit into your life (even the messy parts).

Most people are looking for the wrong kind of mentor.

They think it’s a formal monthly coffee with someone they asked in a sit-down conversation to “be their mentor.”

Almost none of my best mentors started that way.

The people who shaped my career didn’t sign up for the job. Some of them I never even called a mentor at the time. 

I just kept showing up around them, asking questions, and noticing what they did differently.

They saved me years of trial and error.

They handed me opportunities I never would have asked for on my own.

They told me hard truths long before I was ready to hear them.

Today I’ll share the 3 mentors you need in your life and how to find them.

The Believer is the person who sees something in you before you see it in yourself. 

They give you opportunities you don’t feel ready for. They bet on you when nobody else would.

A Believer changed the course of my career.

Years ago, my CEO offered me the CIO role. I hadn’t applied for it, and I certainly had none of the technical credentials people assume that job needs.

He told me he could hire technical experts. What the business needed was someone the company already trusted.

That’s what a Believer does. They look at you and see the version of you that hasn’t shown up yet. Then they hand you the opportunity that gets you there.

You won’t always know who your Believers are in the moment, but you’ll remember them for the rest of your life.

The Door-Opener is the person who says your name in rooms you’re not in. They advocate for you and your work. 

Years ago at one of my companies, there was a need for someone to lead a post-merger integration after an acquisition. I had never done one. 

The leadership team was discussing who should take it on, my name came up, and the role landed on my desk.

I didn’t ask for it. A Door-Opener asked for me. That project changed the trajectory of my career. 

Door-Openers are usually built through trust over time. Do good work. Be easy to recommend. Make it simple for people to bring your name forward.

Most people think a mentor is someone who helps them, encourages them, or opens doors for them. 

The Corrector is different. They tell you the truth nobody else will.

Years ago I gave a presentation to a senior leader at my company. I’d worked hard on it. I wanted him to come up afterward and tell me I’d done a great job.

Instead, he walked over and said something I’ve never forgotten.

“I think someday you’re going to be really great at what you’re doing here. This is what you need to do better to get there faster.”

Then he walked through the corrections, one by one.

In that moment, I was deflated. I’d wanted praise and got a list of critiques.

It took me a while to understand he was investing in me. He cared enough about me and my success to tell me the truth, even when it stung.

Correctors are often the most valuable mentors of all. They’re also the ones we resist the most. 

Most people avoid the people who would correct them. The leaders I admire most actively seek them out.

The biggest reason people don’t have mentors is that they never ask for one. You assume the person you admire is too busy, too senior, or too important to bother. So you never reach out. 

If the person you’re hoping to learn from is too busy to mentor you, they will tell you. 

They’ll say, “I appreciate you reaching out, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now,” and you’ll move on to the next person on your list. Most people are flattered to be asked, even when they have to say no.

When you do ask, be specific about what you’re looking for. 

Show them you’re willing to do the work, take the advice, and put it to use. 

If you can give them value in return, even better.

I’ve asked many people to mentor me throughout my career. Some said yes. Some said no. 

The ones who said yes have shaped my life in ways I’ll never be able to repay. The ones who said no didn’t hold it against me.

You’ll never know unless you ask.

Look at the three types of mentors: Believer, Door-Opener, and Corrector.

Ask yourself which slot is empty. Then send one of these messages this week:

If you need a Believer:

“Hi [name], I’ve been following your work on [specific thing] for a while and it’s shaped how I think about [your area]. I’m working on [specific goal] this year, and I’d love your perspective on it. Would you be open to a 20-minute call this month?”

If you need a Door-Opener:

“Hey [name], wanted to put something on your radar. I’ve been working toward [specific opportunity / role / project] and I’d love to be considered when you hear of something that fits. Thank you so much.”

If you need a Corrector:

“Hi [name], you’re someone whose judgment I really trust. I’m working toward [specific goal] this year, and I think honest feedback from you would get me there faster than almost anything else. What’s one thing you think I should be doing better right now?”

Five minutes of courage today. A decade of difference later.

Talk soon,
Justin

P.S. What’s the last TV show you binged? Looking for a good summer show.

Hit “reply” with any recommendations. Would love to hear.