Building Your Personal Board of Directors
Here is how to build your Council of War with precision.
DEAR GENIUS,
You’re here because “good enough” was never your standard.
This newsletter is your weekly compass—packed with growth hacks, boundary-pushing insights, and the tools to unlock what’s truly possible.
Today’s Focus:
Building your board of directors with precision.
⏳ 6-minute read | 📂 Last edition
Before We Begin…
If you love movies like I do, chances are you've seen several war films. Besides the excitement and the historically accurate battles they portray, they also showcase a powerful element that helps lead to victory.
Whenever a major crisis occurs, generals from various militias present themselves to the king or national leader. This assembly in government is called the Council of War.
This Council of War is a term in military science that refers to a meeting held to determine a course of action, typically during the midst of a war. In normal circumstances, decisions are made by a commanding officer, who may optionally communicate and coordinate them with staff officers, and then implemented by subordinate officers.
Councils of war are typically held when matters of great importance must be decided, consensus must be reached with subordinates, or when the commanding officer is unsure of his position.
Victory or defeat largely depends on these generals. Every wartime leader understands the importance of having a strong council of advisers who are knowledgeable about the art of war and loyal to the ruler.
Little wonder, the wisest king in scripture famously stated, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
As you read this letter, one question you should consider is, “Who are my council members?”
You can’t truly succeed in this game of life without a circle of advisors. The higher you climb the ladder of success, the more counselors you need in your circle.
These are not just figureheads who bow to your will but individuals who are warriors in their own right and can call you to order when you miss your way.
Let’s consider one more example from the Bible, and we delve into this letter in detail.
Following David’s mistake and the subsequent murder of Uriah the Hittite, God's wrath was kindled against him and his household. It is recorded that David never lost a battle.
You can consider him the most victorious king to rule Israel. But guess what, he faced more internal battles within his household than any man could handle in a lifetime.
On this occasion, his son declared war on him, and David had to flee the palace for safety. While he was in hiding, word reached him that Absalom, his son who was seeking his life, was consulting with his former adviser, Ahithophel.
Ahithophel was a highly respected counselor in the Bible, known for his wisdom and skill. It was said that Ahithophel's advice was like the voice of God. He was the most reliable source of wisdom. Any advice he gives can be trusted as the best available.
You can understand why David realized all was lost and prayed a simple prayer, asking that the wisdom of Ahithophel would turn into foolishness. That was the only way he could survive. As the story goes, that prayer was heard. Ahithophel gave sound advice as always, but it was rejected by Absalom, simply because God intervened. Ahithophel ended up taking his own life.
My reason for sharing that story is to reveal this timeless secret. Your growth depends on the quality of advisers you choose to surround yourself with. These are your council of war, your very own personal board of directors.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve explored compound preparations, scarcity mindset traps, and the concept of strategic patience. This week, let’s discuss a crucial element that ties everything together: building your board of directors.
You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with—choose those five people intentionally.
The Power of Strategic Relationships
When you’re comfortable and not desperate, you can build relationships based on mutual value rather than immediate need. This is when you can attract mentors, peers, and connections who genuinely want to see you succeed.
Think about the most successful people you know. They didn’t get there alone.
Behind every person living a life of options is a network of relationships that supported, guided, and opened doors for them.
The Networking Difference
Desperate networking often feels transactional and repels potential connections. It’s the person at the conference shoving business cards at everyone, asking, “What can you do for me?” without offering anything in return.
Strategic relationship building, on the other hand, is done from a position of strength and creates lasting professional and personal connections. It’s the person who genuinely listens, offers value first, and builds authentic connections over time.
Your Personal Advisory Team
Just as companies have boards of directors to provide guidance and oversight, you need people in your life who can offer different perspectives and expertise:
The Industry Expert: Someone who understands your field deeply and can help you navigate career decisions. They see trends before they become apparent and can warn you about pitfalls.
The Life Mentor: A person who’s navigated similar life transitions and can offer wisdom about the bigger picture. They help you see beyond your current circumstances.
The Truth Teller: Someone who will give you honest feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable. They care more about your growth than your feelings in the moment.
The Cheerleader: People who believe in your potential, especially when you don’t believe in yourself. They provide emotional support during challenging times.
The Strategic Thinker: Someone who can see connections and opportunities you might miss. They help you think several moves ahead.
This list is not exhaustive. You can expand as your situation demands. However, people who fall under each of these categories are essential for your overall growth. Certain individuals can play multiple roles as the situation may require. Lastly, you don’t have to get everyone at the same time. Grow at your pace. However, keep the blueprint in full view.
Nurturing Relationships Before You Need Them
Having your board of directors is only one aspect of it. You must be discerning enough to nurture these relationships before you need them.
Back to the war council we discussed in the opening section, those names didn’t make the list on the day of battle. They have been around and sharing advice way before the war happened.
It is therefore essential to note that the key to building an effective personal board is giving before you receive.
When you’re not desperate, you can:
Offer Genuine Help: Share resources, make introductions, or provide the skills they need.
Be Genuinely Interested: Ask about their challenges, celebrate their wins, and remember essential details.
Add value consistently: Send relevant articles, invite them to interesting events, or offer your expertise.
Show Appreciation: Thank them for their time, acknowledge their impact on your thinking
Stay Connected: Regular check-ins without asking for anything.
Starting Small and Authentic
You don’t need five advisory relationships immediately. Start with one person whose judgment you respect and begin building a genuine connection.
If you can have a genuinely interesting conversation with someone over lunch without talking about what you need from them, you’re on the right track for a board relationship.
The Compound Effect of Relationships
Here’s what happens when you consistently nurture strategic relationships: opportunities start finding you. People think of you when good positions open up. You hear about trends before they become mainstream. Doors open not because you’re the most qualified, but because someone vouched for you.
The most successful people don’t just have individual mentors—they have mentors who know each other. When your personal board members start connecting, the value multiplies exponentially.
Until next week, keep building your life of options.
James Iroro
The Genius Note
A Question for You: Who is one person in your life whose judgment you deeply respect? What’s one specific way you could add value to their life this week?
Hit reply and share your thoughts—I love hearing about the relationships that have shaped your thinking.
If this made you think differently about relationships, share it with someone who could benefit from building their own personal board of directors.
Next week, we’ll explore how options in one area of life create opportunities in all other areas—the multiplication effect that changes everything.