Everyone’s a “coach” now. There’s always a blueprint, a mastermind, a playbook, a $7K group chat.
But in this next phase of business? You don’t need more noise. You need discernment. The wrong advisor can derail your vision, burn your capital, and dilute your voice.
Let’s get real: not everyone who sounds smart is strategic. And not everyone who’s confident is qualified.
Every Trusted Voice Is Either Fuel—or Friction
At a certain level of business, trust isn’t just emotional—it’s operational. The mentors, consultants, coaches, and advisors you choose have a direct impact on your money, your mindset, and your momentum.
And if you’re building legacy—not just profit—you’ve got to vet people like you vet investments.
This guide breaks down:
- The three types of advisors you’ll meet and how to identify their true nature: those who guide with experience, those who theorize without practice, and those who merely create noise.
- How to filter “clowns” in suits or in DMs
- Red flags to watch for (even from so-called experts)
- A vetting framework built on alignment, not ego
1. The Coach Who Guides vs. the Coach Who Gasses You Up
Let’s start here: a real coach helps you think more clearly, act smarter, and take aligned risks. A fake coach just sells you confidence boosts with no backbone.
You’re looking for someone who:
- Asks the right questions, not just gives cookie-cutter answers.
- Listens more than they perform
- Understands your goals, not just their program’s outcome
Pro Tip: During discovery calls, ask them what they do when a client wants to do something that feels good but isn’t strategic. Their answer will reveal their integrity.
Quote: “A good coach won’t flatter you—they’ll help you see what you’re avoiding.” —DeAndre Nixon
2. The Advisor Who’s Done the Work vs. the Theorist with Slides
Here’s a hard truth: some of the smartest people have never been in your shoes. Strategy decks and buzzwords mean nothing if they’ve never built anything real.
You need advisors who:
- Have lived through economic downturns, hard pivots, or reinventions
- Can tell you what didn’t work—not just what looked good on LinkedIn
- Offer context, not just content.
Pro Tip: Ask them about a business mistake they’ve made and what they learned from it. If they can’t answer honestly, pass.
Supporting Data: A 2023 Entrepreneur Leadership Index found that 78% of high-growth founders attribute major breakthroughs to mentors who shared real failures, not just frameworks.^1^
Quote: “If they’ve never been punched in the face by business reality, I don’t want their advice.” —Barbara Corcoran
3. The Clown: Looks Legit, Offers Nothing
You know this one. Lots of talk. Big energy. Zero follow-through. They’re good at branding, great at sales—but when it comes time to show up with strategy, all you get is vague advice and recycled content.
The clown is dangerous because they waste your most precious resource: time.
Red Flags to Spot Early:
- Everything they say is “proprietary,” but they can’t explain it.
- They pivot hard if you ask for examples or data.
- They make you feel like you “need” them to succeed.
Pro Tip: Trust your gut. If you feel like you’re being sold a performance instead of being engaged as a leader, walk away.
Quote: “Charisma is not the same thing as credibility. Don’t confuse the two.” —DeAndre Nixon
4. Filter by Alignment, Not Popularity
Just because someone’s visible doesn’t mean they’re viable for you. Influence doesn’t equal fit.
What matters:
- Do they understand your industry and business phase?
- Are they culturally competent and aligned with your values?
- Can they challenge you without controlling you?
Pro Tip: Ask for client references—not testimonials. Talk to real people, off the record, who’ve worked with them recently.
Stat: According to Harvard Business School (2023), leaders who use peer-vetted advisor networks report 47% stronger execution outcomes vs. those who choose based on industry hype.^2^
Quote: “The right mentor reflects you back to yourself—without distortion.” —Lisa Nichols
5. Build a Trusted Circle—Not a Hype Squad
In this next chapter, you don’t need a bunch of people clapping for you. You need a few sharp, aligned, grounded voices who:
- Know what you’re building.
- Aren’t afraid to call you out
- Will stay when things get messy, not just when the ROI looks good
Pro Tip: Build a 3-person “Clarity Circle”: One strategic thinker, one truth-teller, one support/operations mind. To identify potential members, start by reaching out to individuals whose work you admire and who have relevant experience in your field. Exploring online professional networks can also help in finding individuals with complementary skills and values. Consider attending industry meetups or virtual webinars to establish connections with potential advisors. These are the voices you call before you sign anything, change direction, or make emotional moves.
Quote: “When you have the right circle, you stop needing validation—and start making clear decisions.” —DeAndre Nixon
Conclusion: The Right Voice Will Sharpen Yours—Not Replace It
You’ve outgrown advice for the masses. Skip the hype or frameworks that sound good in a pitch deck but collapse under pressure.
What you need now are advisors who’ve walked through challenges, can see your blind spots, and want your vision to win—not just their method.
Choose wisely. Vet carefully. Build with people who sharpen your leadership—not silence it.
Ready to build your strategic support circle? Let’s connect. First, consider auditing your current advisors to understand who truly aligns with your goals and values. I’ll help you create a decision-making system that cuts through hype and centers only on proven results.
Bibliography
- Entrepreneur Magazine. “2023 Leadership Index: Who Founders Trust and Why.” Entrepreneur.com, November 2023. https://www.entrepreneur.com
- Harvard Business School. “Decision-Making in High-Growth Companies.” HBS Working Knowledge, July 2023. https://hbswk.hbs.edu