Have you ever noticed how when a person is really making a name for him or herself that they tend to have a lot of friends and fans? Why is that? Well, in my opinion it is because others want what they can’t obtain on their own. Others just don’t have what it takes to discipline themselves and buckle down to making a success for themselves. They are like racecar drivers, they are trying to pull a draft from the car in front of them. By catching a draft, there is a decrease in air resistance and the care behind doesn’t have to work as hard, use as much fuel, or expend as much horsepower. People can be this way too, we want things to be as easy as possible and to get ahead without doing all the leg work as required to do so.

How do you deal with someone who is riding on your coattails? My thought is to pull over and let them lead for a while. Once they are put into a position that they are not comfortable to undertake, or are not competent in doing, they will tire easily and fall back. Most of the time they will will fall back far enough that they can’t ride your coattails and have to either do things themselves or rely on others to pull them ahead. Eventually, they may be back on your coattails, but you can do the same thing again or this time, work with them and help mentor them. They obviously want to get further ahead than they are and maybe just don’t have the right tools to do so. This is where you can come in as a mentor.

Those who are riding on your coattails are not always bad people but maybe are just not quite equipped to face the challenge just yet. Only you can judge that. IF you try to mentor them and they still are not ready to apply themselves, you need to distance yourself from them.

So, as you look back in your rear-view mirror, do you see someone drafting you or riding your coattails? Now, take a good look out your windshield and make sure that you are not doing the same thing to others. If you see that someone is in front of you, try pushing instead of riding and see how that can make you a better candidate for mentoring and getting further ahead on you journey of life.