Let’s look at the five kinds of people you should surround yourself with to help empower you and your business.
1. The Inspired
Inspiration comes in many forms – books, quotes, movies, music, business conferences, podcasts; you name it. But how many people do you know who have led fascinating lives, overcome obstacles, and make you want to live a better life? If you don’t have anyone in your life that challenges you to be a better version of yourself, then it’s time to start looking. A great place to begin is by watching
TED Talks, which are presentations by people who have inspiring stories to share. Having at least one person who inspires you to be your better self is a great first step in growing your business.
2. The Motivated
Motivation can be hard to muster. But when you surround yourself with people who seem to ooze success, who spend their time wisely working on their business, who always seems to be productive in ways you aren’t, it can rub off on you in subtle and surprising ways. Associating with motivated folks can cause you to look at your work habits and question why you’re not getting more done for your business. You’ll find that motivated people are great at
making realistic goals and meeting them on a continuous basis.
3. The Open-Minded
Seek out professionals who are willing to look at all possible solutions before making a final decision. If you need to troubleshoot problems, this is the person you want by your side. It may lead to some pretty creative thinking that could present answers you might never have thought of otherwise. The more open-minded folks you surround yourself with, the more you’ll learn about
the importance of adaptability.
4. The Passionate
You started your own business for a reason, and most likely, it was because you have a passion for it. But sometimes, that passion fades when times get tough. Surrounding yourself with people who care deeply about the work they do is a great way for you to pick their brains about what fuels their affection so you can learn to be even more dedicated to your own career in new and exciting ways. You’ll most likely learn that the secret behind their seemingly-neverending fervor is they remember to look at the big picture, rather than getting bogged down by whatever business-related worries or mundane details might be on their to-do lists. Being truly passionate about what you do is how you get through the tough days of owning your own business.
5. The Grateful
Being grateful for what you have means you appreciate how far you’ve come in meeting your business goals. It’s taking stock of what you’ve achieved and what lies ahead. But it’s also acknowledging the people who got you there. Someone who has made it a best practice to express gratitude is most likely highly-successful in their industry. Finding someone like this to be able to talk to will allow you to view your business and your life from a different and humble perspective. It means instead of looking at the negative and what you haven’t accomplished, you look at what you’ve gained. And then you find a way to express that gratitude to those who got you there.