{
  "id": 19797426,
  "title": "Entrepreneurs have a secret weapon that anyone can invest in to get ahead. For me, it costs $400 a month.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/entrepreneurs-have-a-secret-weapon-that-anyone-can-invest-in-to-get",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T10:45:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/secret-weapon-of-successful-people-coaches-entrepreneurs-small-business-2026-11"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Coaches serve as the secret weapon for the super successful, regardless of their talent, success, or wealth. Business owners often rely on coaches, mentors, and courses to advance their ventures. Bill Gates emphasizes the importance of having a coach, stating, \"Everyone needs a coach. We all need people that give us feedback. That's how we improve.\"\n\nEven though coaching is often associated with top-performing individuals, it is not exclusive to them. The author himself hired a life coach at the age of 31, paying $400 monthly, which he considers one of the best investments. The coach has provided valuable insights, enabling the author to learn new skills and techniques more efficiently.\n\nKyle Ray, who transformed a window-cleaning side hustle into a six-figure business in multiple Texas cities, compares a good coach to a cheat code that helps him collapse time. He actively seeks out coaches, mastermind programs, and classes to accelerate his development. When needed, he invests in acquiring specific knowledge and skills, seeking out experts who can teach him more effectively.\n\nIf hiring a coach isn't feasible, one can turn to a mentor. Identifying someone already excelling in the desired field and asking for advice can be a cost-effective alternative. Stavya Nilawar, a college student running a creator-marketing agency from his dorm room, took a similar route. He reached out to agency owners in advanced positions and asked about their daily routines and strategies for growth.\n\nIn addition to coaching and mentorship, there are other accessible ways to invest in oneself, such as attending conferences, joining mastermind groups, enrolling in classes, or reading leadership books. Before having the resources to invest in coaches, the author credits much of his business success to the lessons he learned from business and leadership books like \"Drive\" by Daniel Pink, \"Dare to Lead\" by Brené Brown, and \"Beyond the Hammer\" by Brian Gottlieb.\n\nNetworking events have also played a crucial role in the author's growth. By attending conferences and interacting with top Amazon sellers and real-estate experts, they have gained valuable insights and realized the importance of continuous learning and networking.",
  "summary": "Coaches, mentors, and networking events can help entrepreneurs learn faster, get unstuck, and grow their businesses.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}