I hope you find one and if you do, let me know 
[B]1.) They have good character.[/B]
Character is about the sum total of a person, and it is the result of the habits a person builds on a daily basis. It reflects their honesty, their dependability, and whether they are trustworthy. A person with good character keeps their word, and they want the best for others. They are not self-centered or self-seeking. You can see why advice from a person with bad character can and should be suspect. Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there!
Good character makes a person dependable and trustworthy. Those are the kinds of people you want as advisors. The late J.P Morgan was asked what he considered to be the best bank collateral. Without hesitation he replied, “Character.” William Lake put it this way: “One of the most important lessons that experience teaches is that, on the whole, success depends more upon character than either intellect or fortune.”
[B]2.) They have a track record of success.
[/B]If you want to know how to win at something, talk to people who have been winners at something, talk to people who have been winners doing the same thing. It seems obvious, but sometimes it can be tricky to determine if a person really has a track record of success. Be very suspicious of people who blow their own horn trying to convince how successful they have been. The kind of person you meet who immediately starts dropping names and going on and on about all the great things they have done. Self-proclaimed success is not a reliable measuring stick to determine if a person really has a good track record.
People who are successful do not have to sell themselves that hard. You hear of their success from others, and you see it as you learn more and more about their lives and their circumstances.
[B]3.) They are good listeners.
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It is important that your advisors/coaches be good listeners. A wise man once said “Talking is sharing but listening is caring.” You want your advisors to really care about you and your success, so its important that they be good listeners not only to get to know you but also to understand what you really need and how they can help you. A good coach/mentor is really an encourager, and to be a good encourager, you have to be a good listener.
[B]4.) They are good decision makers[/B].
Great advisors and coaches consistently make good decisions and good choices because they have acquired a good deal of wisdom throughout their lives. How do you acquire wisdom, and how does it work in the decision-making process? Wisdom is acquired by gaining knowledge and learning to apply that knowledge to the daily events of life. The daily events of life are filled with decisions, and these choices create the results of our lives. The kind of knowledge that creates wisdom is information that is true and correct. Information that is false is not authentic knowledge, and because it is false, it is not wisdom. Lots of people acquire false information, believe it is true, and make bad decisions as a result of that information.
People who make good decisions have the ability to test the information they get and filter out the parts that are not true. This ability leads to the skill of good decision makers can help you develop the ability to test bad information and reject it. When you develop this ability, you, too, will become a good decision maker.
[B]5.) They tell the truth (even when it hurts).
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A good coach cares more about giving you the right information you need than worrying that what they say might offend you or hurt your feelings. After all, you don’t look for advice for the purpose of getting compliments and accolade ( although some people do exactly that). A good advisor must be truthful with themselves and others, and the inability to do that makes for someone you absolutely don’t want advice from.
[B]6.) They have good personal relationships.
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Good advisors don’t mind investing their time and knowledge in you because they have a history of longterm relationships built on a foundation of caring for helping others. Unfortunately, the availability of good advisors may be more limited now than it has been in years past. The inability to have good relationships has escalated dramatically in the last thirty years. Modern American society has become rude and self-centered; its philosophy has become. “Hooray for me, to heck with you, Im going to do it my way. I’ll win through intimidation. Im going to look out for Number One, and I’m going to do it now.” That philosophy quite accurately depicts a miserable human being. Personally, never met a happy self-centered person, and I’ll bet that you haven’t either. You don’t want an advisor who is miserable and self-centered. Look for people who have lots of good relationships, because they probably care a lot about others, and they will care about you, too.
[B]7.) They celebrate the success of others.
[/B]Why would you want to take the advice of someone who would enjoy watching you fail? ….People who are unable to encourage you in your vision or dream and instead tell you all the things they don’t believe you can do or accomplish are negative influences. Run from those folks as fast as you can, because they do not wish the best for you. Instead, look for advice from people who celebrate the success of others. They are natural cheerleaders and get a real kick out of seeing anyone do well…
Don’t look for people who will tell you what you want to hear. Look for people who will truthfully share their wisdom with you, because they want you to succeed as they have succeeded….
We all need the cooperation and assistance of others, and good advice is part of that assistance. If we want to be all we can be, take good advice from good people. When we do that consistently, we will be equipped to win!
