Who's Your Guru Today?

A bit of guidance and support from a learned master can be a great way to accelerate learning and development. But how do you choose? How can you tell who's a charlatan and who is genuine? Here are some good ideas for you.

My life is about expanding possibilities and fabulous new experiences. I love learning and growing and love teaching it all to others. Working with 'gurus' has been a big part of my personal growth and evolution as a human being and as a coach. I have attended seminars, workshops, teleclasses, and payed thousands of dollars for one-on-one coaching. All have been valuable and effective programs to expand who I am and how I live my life.

But there are so many self-processed gurus out there, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Who is the real deal? How do you pick?

First of all, your need for different gurus will evolve over time. Who you resonate with and what you want to learn changes as you grow and develop. As a result, there is no one set path for everyone. However, here are some guidelines to help you choose wisely.

Know what you want. Or at least what you don't want anymore. This is a good starting point. A guru should be able to help you focus on solutions to your particular area of interest. For example, if you know you want to be healthy and heal your past, there is no sense hiring a guru who specialises in wealth mastery. Maybe you want wealth mastery too, but the health thing is paramount. So focus your search on your major priority area. Sounds simple, but people can get swamped with thinking that they need to 'fix' all areas of their life simultaneously. Go for the number one hot spot in your life.

Assess your guru's results. Have they got the results you desire? Are they a model of their teachings? Do they walk their talk and shout it proudly from the rooftop? A role model that you have faith in is key to your successful outcomes. When you invest in someone who has got the results you desire, you know they have done something right to get where they are. This helps dissolve any personal resistance you may have to change.

The vibe thing. You have got to resonate with your guru. Does it feel good to hang out in their company? You can get a feel for this through their writing, their marketing material, and their website. Does it feel good when you are engaged with their thoughts and reflections? Does it feel right? This is the really important aspect of choosing your guru. You have got to resonate with their vibe. Don't hire them just because someone else recommended them or got great results from them. This is your journey; make sure it feels right to you.

The money thing. Gurus charge all sorts of money for their products and services. More is not necessarily better and free sometimes means desperate. Evaluate the guru more on their experience and their vibe. Your gut response is usually right on this one. Take your time to decide how much your investment is worth to you.

Guru truth: when you hire a guru or invest in their products, you are really investing in yourself. How much are you worth to you? This means if you buy a product and don't apply the knowledge, you haven't wasted money on the guru's products, you have only wasted money and time on yourself. If you invest in a product, carry it all the way to fruition - do whatever it takes to learn as much as you can from the material, apply the learning, and enjoy the transformation . Give yourself credit for your own growth!

All right, so you'd probably like some recommendations, or at least a starting point. Here is a list of my favourite gurus to date.

Anthony Robbins www.gettheedge.com

This guy has been going strong for over twenty years. His message is pretty simple and clear with proven techniques to change your mental and emotional states to get what you want. His live seminars are a true experience in themselves: 5000+ people dancing and crying and laughing together for days on end. The firewalk was hypnotic. If nothing else, his marketing machinery is completely impressive. He is a real model for big time profile success in personal development . His energy and sincerity is mesmerising and I can listen to his CDs over and over.

Biggest leap forward for me? I ran my best marathon after following his 30-day program, I lost weight and looked fabulous, and started my own coaching business as a result of using his CDs.

Joe Vitale www.mrfire.com

My first introduction to Joe was in the Secret DVD. What struck me was here was this guy, kind of bald and a little tubby, who had survived homelessness to become a premiere guru in marketing and spirituality and now lived a millionaire lifestyle. Very cool. I have bought a number of his books and online material.

Biggest leap forward for me? Actually clearing some blocks about my (lack of) prosperity mindset that were really dragging me down. I feel free and empowered now.

Bob Doyle www.wealthbeyondreason.com

Another introduction through the Secret DVD. I could not help but notice Bob Doyle's sincerity. He truly does want you to succeed and be wealthy and prosperous. I bought his book and then joined his Wealth Beyond Reason program and have not looked back. Bob's information is a big part of me re-designing my environment in to a wealth conscious one.

Biggest result so far: every day delight and noticing miracles - cash and otherwise - that come up for me each day. Very, very cool.

Drew Rozell www.drewrozell.com

I think I came across Drew's website when I was studying with Coachville. I signed for his newsletter, the Drewsletter, and then eventually hired him as my coach. I loved the way he was leading his life: one of simplicity, prosperity, and in the middle of the country. I felt peace emanating from his newsletter and basically, I wanted some of that too. So I hired him.

How my life has changed as a result: I left a job that was draining my energy and stepped full time in to my coaching business after a long period of illness and recovery. I cleared up my resistance to wealth and started attracting all sorts of cool financial successes. I feel totally different about my life: it is all about fun, freedom, and yes, the peace I gravitated to when I first hired him. A very talented and genuine coach.

Zoë Routh www.innercompass.com.au

Yes, some people consider me a guru. People hire me as their coach or buy my products because they like who I am and how they feel when they hang out with me. One guy hired me because I had gone to hell and back with cancer and thought I might be able to teach him what not to do! Mostly people like working with me because I help open their souls to the possibilities in their own life. They get glimpses of their own brilliance and it sets their passion on fire. Very fun to watch someone come alive again!

Last word:

Don't raise your gurus so high that they tumble from the pedestal. They are human too, and evolving, just like the rest of us. In fact, we are all gurus in our own way. Trust yourself that you know the right way for you, that your faith in yourself will triumph and bring the results you imagine. Be your own guru and love yourself for your own magnificence.