There are some pretty strong opinions here on BiggerPockets about whether or not to follow a coach, whether or not to buy guru products, etc. So, I thought I\u2019d stick my neck way out and bring up some discussion about, \u201cWhat\u2019s the Difference Between a Coach and a Guru?\u201d<\/p>\n
Are they the same?<\/p>\n
Does it matter?<\/p>\n
Do you want to use either one?<\/p>\n
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, I am a real estate investing coach. Therefore, you may go ahead and assume (and you would be correct) that I believe strongly in the value of coaching. The stronger reason for my belief, however, is not that I am a coach, but that I\u2019ve always used coaching for my business and I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without it. (And where I am in my business is a pretty awesome place to be.)<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s the difference between a coach and a guru? Being my article, naturally these are my definitions\/opinions. Please add yours at the bottom of this post!<\/p>\n
Online definitions: to give tuition or instruction; to mentor; a person who trains; to give advice; instruct.<\/em><\/p>\n A coach is someone who leads and\/or guides another. Someone who\u2019s been there before and can help you through the good and the bad. Someone who\u2019s personally aware of you and what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n Who needs a coach? Anyone who wants to be better. At anything. This is the point where many say, \u201cEven Tiger Woods has a coach\u201d and, \u201cMichael Jordan always had a coach.\u201d And, \u201cyou can read a lot of books about flying a plane, but you probably want a coach with you the first time you go up.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want to be better, you need outside instruction – another point of view – someone looking at what you\u2019re doing from a different perspective, preferably one of experience.<\/p>\n Yes, you can learn everything on your own. However, having a coach to guide and instruct you (when they\u2019re good) will save you both time and money. We have spent a lot of money on coaching, and still do. Coaching has made us exponentially more than it has cost us and saved us years of trial and error.<\/p>\n Related<\/strong>: BP Radio Podcast 002: Starting Out with Karen Rittenhouse \u2013 Subject To, Direct Mail, and Investing from a Woman\u2019s Perspective<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Online definitions: any person who counsels or advises; mentor; a leading authority in a particular field; teacher; imparter of knowledge<\/em><\/p>\n Wikipedia adds: \u201cIn the United States, the meaning of “guru” has been used to cover anyone who acquires followers, especially by exploiting their naivet\u00e9…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Interestingly, by most definitions, there is not much difference. In the real estate investing arena, however, people have a much better opinion of \u201ccoach\u201d than \u201cguru\u201d.<\/p>\n In my mind, guru defines someone who travels through town, teaching from a stage, selling their idea and product, taking money for the product, then leaving town again. The buyer leaves the event enthused but, ultimately, overwhelmed and clearly confused with how to implement the purchase they\u2019ve just made.<\/p>\n Gurus are hard to speak with directly. Even those first 30 buyers who run to the back of the room to claim the limited 90 days of free coaching often find the \u201cfree\u201d coach knows not much more about the product than they do. It\u2019s certainly not one-on-one training by the guru.<\/p>\n A coach, on the other hand, is accessible. They are someone to work with or meet with in person from time to time. They have a direct interest in you and your success. They are closely involved with the functions of your business so that they can guide and assess your progress.<\/p>\n A guru doesn\u2019t really know that you exist, and certainly doesn\u2019t know anything about your business.<\/p>\nGuru<\/h2>\n