Here’s some Bronze Age wisdom for our modern era. You are vulnerable. There, I said it! You are vulnerable! I am vulnerable. We must all be careful! Like the famous Greek warrior, Achilles, played by Brad Pitt in the epic war film “Troy,” all of us have a soft spot. We have an underbelly. The unsinkable Titanic did. We all have chinks in our armor. Or as the timeless tale goes, we all have an “Achilles Heel”—a liability, a susceptibility, a vulnerability.

When this vulnerable heel of ours is tempted, provoked, attacked, and pierced with arrows, our tragic flaw runs the risk of becoming our fatal flaw. So what is workplace warrior to do? Here are 3 Heel-Guard Tips:

(1) Own It! Achilles has a weakness. Brad Pitt has a defect. I have a host of handicaps. You have your own frailties, failings, and flaws. What vulnerable areas do you have that could compromise and damage your business? Whatever they are, own it, embrace it, and take responsibility for it.

(2) Plan for It! In the movie Troy, Achilles says, “I want what all men want. I just wanted more.” We must plan for our fallen longings and our carnal natures to arise. We must be on guard against our own lack of contentment and ingratitude. Heads up, our selfishness often arises when we are overly hungry, tired, and depleted. Plan a strategy to head off your own destructive dynamics. Cover your heel! Guard your heart. Plan. Strategize. Activate!

(3) Get Help! We all know despite how strong, valiant and mighty Achilles was, he was not invincible. Either are we. Despite all our personal and professional good, we all have areas we could use assistance. Avoid the perils and pitfalls of having one area of your life undermine all the other good you have to offer. Look to other noble Spartans for help.

You’re a good Greek warrior. Troy has met its match. But all your riches, glory, and fame are threatened when you take unprotected risks. Fight on, but watch your heel. And consider Brad Pitt’s great lesson for leaders. You are vulnerable. Be careful. Don’t war alone. And perhaps consider a Life Coach to have your back.

But leadership involves loneliness. Despite the teams and trustees, boards and assistants, leaders are, by nature of their position, set apart (meaning they are by themselves). Despite a constellation of colleagues around them, they often feel like an isolated universe unto themselves. Despite all the handshaking and hellos, all the social media “likes”, and all the networking they navigate, leaders are, by definition, without equal (meaning without company).

Like a castaway on the ocean, leaders are surrounded by water, but have nothing to drink. They are surrounded by people, yet feel utterly alone. This remoteness, this alienation, this solitariness is the number one killer of all CEOs, business owners, and sole proprietors. Despite their amazing gifts, talents, abilities, and skills, leaders suffer from a built-in business barrenness. Their professional seclusion and positional exile often lead to quiet heartache, low-grade depression, and suppressed despair.

What’s a CEO to do? As a leader it’s hard to know who to talk to, who to trust, who

to confide in. There are things that don’t seem helpful to process with a spouse, an employee, or a close associate. It feels like no one understands. And truth be told, most don’t understand. Consequently, the temptation is to downplay the detachment, suck it up, and pretend everything is good enough. Just press on. La la la. Ignore the wheels wobbling. Drive without oil. And cross your fingers. Until it all blows up!

I understand. I know firsthand the brutal bleakness of leading. I know about the criticisms, the betrayals, and the stab wounds in the back to prove it (but that’s another story). I also unfortunately know how to sabotage my own career and calling. Don’t go there. Quit grinding it out alone. Refuse to let yourself get so depleted stupid stuff happens. A personal and private Life Coach can make a practical difference. It has for me! It can for you!

Loneliness leads to terrible things. Get your strength back. Restore your confidence. Reinvest in your own well-being. Loneliness is the #1 killer of leaders. Get a coach in your corner, a wingman on your flank, a spotter to back you, a comrade to do battle with. Defeat loneliness. Partner with a coach!

I have many coaches, but my Life Coach is my lifeguard. In the early years, my Cub Scout Leader, Choir Director, ASB Advisor, and Football Coach all made meaningful deposits in my growth bank. At UCLA, my Academic Advisor, Fraternity Big Brother, Weightlifting Coach, and Spiritual Discipler all helped me to make direction-setting decisions.

Coaches have gotten me through the demands of adulthood. My dissertation advisor got me through my Ph.D. program. My pastor got me through my dating years. My NCAA mentors got me through reffing camps, tests, games, and the nerves of officiating March Madness.

Coaches (of all kinds) help me in areas I’m not very good. I have a financial advisor, a tax man, a car mechanic, a plumber, an air conditioning guy, and a barber. Coaches also help me in areas I’d rather not spend my time; I now have a gardener, pool man, a pest control guy. I’m now contemplating paying someone to hang the Christmas lights for me this year (ha). But best of all, coaches help me to live well. I have a doctor, chiropractor, dentist, and orthodontist to keep my body and my teeth healthy and properly aligned.

And of course, I have my own Life Coach. Call him a counselor, consultant, therapist, or shrink, I have someone I meet with weekly who is committed to keeping my heart, mind, and soul healthy and aligned. Someone who keeps me thriving personally, professionally, and relationally.

Everyone struggles. But leaders struggle in a uniquely painful way. All of us have gaps, insecurities, weaknesses, and blind spots. All of us know there are areas we are not skilled, proficient, or competent. But in general, most of us celebrate the select gifts, talents, and skills that we do have, and it is “enough.” We have enough schooling, enough training, and enough ability to live full meaningful lives. But not leaders.

 Leaders are in the spotlight. Leaders are idealized, scrutinized, and criticized. Consequently, leaders don’t like looking at or sharing their insecurities. I know I don’t. No surprise then, that leaders struggle with “Not Enough!”

 I’m not talking about… not enough staff, not enough business, or not enough profits (though those matters can be stressful for CEOs and business owners). Leaders secretly struggle with not being educated enough, not knowing enough, and not being insightful enough. No matter how much they seem to read, seminar, network, or labor, it’s “Not Enough!” They have books, credentials, academic degrees, and experience, yet something quietly haunts them inside. Something deep down nags at them, saying, “you don’t know what you’re doing; you’re a fake; you will be found out; you are not enough.”

To counter this secret buried terror, most Head Kahunas, Chief Poohbahs, and Big Cheese Executives typically do what they do best; they double down. They put their head down, bite the bullet, and do more of the same thing—expending more hours, on more work, with more investment. But the “Not Enough” blahs remain. Workplace warriors don’t like to complain, to pander to feelings, or to confess their angst to others—especially employees and colleagues.

 So, what’s a leader to do?

(1) Realize the “Not Enough” blues are universal. Every honest, human leader has them from time to time.

(2) Share your “Not Enough” guilt with close family and friends who are happy to share with you all the ways you are more than enough.

(3) Consider partnering with a Success Life Coach who not only understands and empathizes with your experience, but who can help you (with professional experience, tools, resources, and analytics) to enjoy your unique personality profile, your customized strength map, your personalized success matrix, and (perhaps most importantly) your intrinsic “Enoughness!”

You’re a leading warrior! Who’s your armor-bearer? Did you know these revered protective shield-bearers date back to the ancient days of Pharaohs in Egypt? History testifies that for thousands of years all leading men had a trusted private attendant. More than just a bodyguard, these side-kick soldiers were life-guards and hope-guards. In a hostile world, armor-bearers had the awesome responsibility of securing the safety and success of their commanding officer. It’s sad to note that so many modern market-men are pining at business and at life alone. They lug, by themselves, all the stress, weight, and pressures of corporate warfare. Today, a 21st century Life Coach offers the benefits of a 1st century armor-bearer.

So traditional and commonplace was the armor-bearer, that the Bible even records several of these important battle-tested servants in Scripture. These loyal military companions are affirmed for carrying the large shield, along with other weapons and supplies, for a king (1 Samuel 31:4), a commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 23:37), a captain (1 Samuel 14:7) and a champion (1 Samuel 17:7). Men like Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 16:21), Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6-17), and Joab (2 Samuel 18:15) all had armor-bearers.

You’re a leading warrior, a corporate king, an entrepreneurial general! Again I ask; who’s your armor-bearer? Who’s your trusted Life Coach? Who’s helping you with availability and assistance, strength and security—particularly in times of danger? And we certainly live in dangerous times, competitive times, changing times. Perhaps it’s time to let someone else do some of the heavy lifting and dirty work with you. Perhaps it’s time to consider enjoying the personal and professional support a gifted Life Coach can bring.

I wish you well, warrior. Fight on, inspiring executive. But remember, you don’t have to fight and build a business alone. Historically, all leading warriors had an armor-bearer. I do. I hope you do too.

Want some good news? Here it is: When all else fails, you can get your numbers up with a coach. The research from Human Capital Institute (HCI) and International Coach Federation (ICF) cements the idea that having a coach and cultivating a strong coaching culture is fantastic for business. According to the study, coaches significantly increase company success. Check out these numbers:

We all want increased on-boarding, productivity, development, engagement, functioning, along with the fantastic byproduct of increased benefits and profits. Consider using a Life Coach for yourself personally and for your enterprise professionally.

As an executive, entrepreneur, and business leader, why fly alone into battle when you can have a wingman guarding your flank? A Life Coach is a wingman–a pilot whose aircraft is positioned behind and outside your leading aircraft in a formation. A competent experienced Life Coach is a military pilot himself with the

primary purpose of protecting you (personally and professionally) by “watching your back.”

Even veteran aviators confess solo missions get tedious and tiring. Business battles are better fought together. In war, the wingman’s primarily responsibility is to remain close to the leader—serving and supporting the aerial ace. A Life Coach wingman adds so much:

You’re a Top Gun. Every Marketplace Maverick, including you, can expect people to take shots at them. Stay on top with good health, family and friend, and the backing of your own private wingman. Consider a Life Coach today.