One of the most consequential decisions I made as an entrepreneur was to seek out mentors. Over time I had a few as CCAW transitioned. It took me several years to find my first really good mentor, but when I did it made a world of difference. At the time, CCAW was doing around $500,000 in annual revenue. The company was just me and one team member. My mentor was in a different industry, was doing around $60 million in annual revenue, and had more than a hundred employees.

I recently reflected on what made the relationship so impactful. There are lots of things, but one especially stands out: credibility.

When I described a challenge, my mentor could relate to it because years earlier his company had been at the stage where CCAW was. He drew on the specific experiences that helped him resolve the same challenge or one that was similar. His credibility came from having already achieved what I was trying to achieve. He shared his blueprint for success, which comprised knowledge amassed over many years. He essentially laid the path to success at my feet. I still had to walk the path, but I didn’t have to figure out where it was or what it looked like.

I believe that everyone could benefit from this type of wisdom and should consider establishing a relationship with a credible mentor. To increase the likelihood of a fruitful mentorship, I encourage people to first decide on the answers to two simple but powerful questions: What am I trying to accomplish? Has my prospective mentor successfully done the same sort of thing? If you can’t answer the first, you’re not ready to be mentored. If you can’t say “yes” to the second, you haven’t found the right mentor.

When seeking knowledge from another person, always consider whether he or she is credible. On my business journey, the wisdom of credible people has been a game changer many times.