My journey with my mentors have proven to be exciting, mentally exhausting and filled with thoughts of Sicilian cuisine and Italian Birato. In any case, one of my mentors just had his workshop recently concluded and another one is, as he describes it, in Mount Myobokuzan where he learns the Sage arts of Internet Marketing analytics.

Both are doing fairly well and are equally fulfilled. They’re doing the things they want to do.

I couldn’t be any happier and more excited for them.

But at some point, I looked at where I am. And this is coming from a perception of comparison. One of my mentors say that while my being competitive is a strength and that my penchant for comparing myself to others is annoying, I should make sure that such is grounded in the form of “If they can do it, so can I!”

But I looked back and I felt like I was lagging behind in terms of progress. It could just be me, but hey, can’t help it if I compare myself to others. I’m taking a more grounded approach though. So I’m not going into a stage of self-pity or anything – I’m just doing a little bit of self evaluation.

The Background

(Disclaimer: This section has a a lot of references to the manga series Naruto. Hope you all read it, but if not, I hope the descriptions I have for each character would suffice.)

So in this one convo, I mentioned to my mentor that I took his quote (a quote from Toad Ninja Jiraiya from the Naruto series) to both heart and mind:

“Masarap turuan ang tanga.” (It feels good to teach an idiot)

Back when I was a webmaster (guy who publishes blog posts, searches for stuff off the Internet and stuff) we shared a Jiraiya-Naruto relationship where he was the teacher and I was the student. True enough, I didn’t learn the Rasengan in the same way he did – he was my SEO mentor and I couldn’t match my SEO with his. But I learned to do it in my own way. He mentioned that same quote to me – and while he did mention that it was a pain to teach me, I guess the random office rants and antics were cool and memorable.

Ah, those were the days.

During the convo, he then replies like this:

“I will change my Sage sayings to you: Elevate your game. You have to improve. I am still lowering my power to match yours. We need to do the perfect lariat.”

Again, in reference to the Naruto series and Killer Bee and the Raikage’s power move and relationship. In this case, more on the business side.

I didn’t know what to feel. Maybe only happiness because at one point, he may have just recognized what I’m capable of. Not that I don’t recognize it on my own. It just feels good to hear that from a mentor who you look up to as some form of higher authority. And to tell you the truth, he rarely affirms people.

As for my other mentor, I can say he’s the Iruka Umino to my Naruto Uzumaki. Always empowering me and reminding me that I can do better at things I initially thought I was good at. But in terms of skill and Internet marketing prowess, he’s definitely a Kakashi Hatake – and sometimes, and during working hours, he believes in me the same way that Kakashi does Naruto.

Honestly, I guess that’s a need I pathologically want fulfilled – the need to feel that someone believes in me. I wouldn’t know fully. But one thing rings true for both of these great teachers: If they need me to work on anything, I will be there. Like a summoned ninja toad from the land of Myobokuzan!

How I’m Doing

Well, I did previously mention that I was going to Cebu for the Digital Influencers Summit. So I guess that’s progress. I started working on videos for the past few weeks AND I’ve completed several freemiums (I’ll get right on to putting it as a Facebook Tab in my Facebook Page for ya’ll to freely download!). I’ve also started using Facebook’s Sponsored Stories to get more highly targeted likes from the big blue social network.

But given what my SEO mentor said, I definitely feel like I have to go past Post, Like and Comment, Internet Contest Marketing, Basic Social Media Insights and Analytics and Facebook adeptness. Not that what I do is insufficient or not good enough – but mainly because he knows and I know there’s a whole lot of things out there that I can learn and be awesome at.

Before being in iBlog or hearing about the Digital Influencers Summit, I used to think I was the best at what I can do. True enough, there will always be someone who will be better than me at it. But rather than coming from a space of competition and being the best in the business, I’d rather come from a space of providing real value to the people I work with and for. After all, why bother competing in a world where competition is the name of the game? Wouldn’t it be better to just work together for a brighter future instead?

Just like how Naruto Uzumaki was a loud-mouthed ninja who thinks he’s better than all previous Hokages and that he will surpass them someday, I used to brag and believe that I was the best. Well, just like how Naruto got to learn there are deeper things than just being the best, I learned that being the best doesn’t always matter. So long as you know how to help other people achieve the success they deserve, than you’re on your way to your own true version of success.

Just saying.

I do this to not only better my skills as a social media marketer, I do this to become a better Internet businessman, blogger. I do this to make my business help other businesses succeed online. And I don’t need to compete.

I do the stuff I do because I love it – I’m happy doing it. I do the stuff I do because I want to protect the people who are near and dear to me. I do the stuff I do because I want to provide opportunities for others.

The Perfect Lariat

No, it’s not that finishing move that decapitates a rogue shark ninja’s head. More like the fellowship that’s been formed in the last few years. This fellowship has, of course, in its core, the desire to help people and businesses alike become successful both online and offline. These two mentors have provided me with opportunities to help myself and others, after all. I don’t see why I can’t do the same for other people.

Image from Philosimage

Point is, while I still have a lot to learn and while I feel lagging in terms of progress, I’ll continue to work to match their proficiency in the skills they have. Maybe I can’t learn as fast as they can, nor can I think up of strategies to match their cunning. But I know one thing, I’m no longer that cry baby ninja who whines about how he can’t perfect a jutsu. I am that other ninja that can potentially complete a Sannin (the legendary trio) of the Internet business industry in the Philippines.