The Beauty of Success

6Protection

Today's Prayer: Father, I pray that You will be glorified and protect us as we move through this new season.

—Genesis 27:1–40

One of the pillars that I profoundly believe in and credit with so much of my success, with the doors opening and the opportunities that divinely entered my life at just the right time, stemmed from the protection that was wrapped around me in the form of mentorship. There is much to be said about mentors, champions, and sponsors, and I know firsthand the benefits of both at various stages of my career.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama says, “We should always have three friends in our lives—one who walks ahead, who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we've cleared the way.”

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have had people at each position: the one who walks ahead, the one who walks beside, and the one who I reach back to bring along. The beauty of this is that at any given moment, we may need a differentiated support system. I do believe that to stay humble, relevant, and in constant learning mode, you should always be able to identify and recognize those three people and thank them for the impact they have on your life. In writing this book, there are so many people who have filled these roles over the years, and I wanted to highlight three that instantly flooded my brain with memories, words, kindness, and trust. ...