Virtually every viable economic concern has an advisory board. Savvy project managers are taking a cue and assembling personal “advisory boards” of their own.

Your board can help with everything from getting through a day’s activities to making big strides in career advancement. Identify a mentor in each of the following areas:

• Professional services

• Marketing

• Finance

• Politics and public relations

• Extracurricular, work-related activities

Ask the person to act as your “doctor,” “coach,” and “agent”:

• Your doctor will tell you what’s good for you, even when you don’t want to hear it.

• Your coach will encourage you when you’re down and push you hard when you need motivation.

• Your agent will look out for your best interests and give you feedback on how you are received in the workplace