I a firm believer that you are a combination of the people you surround yourself with and that it’s critical to surround yourself with people who make you better every day. No matter what your goals and aspirations, these four types of people will help you grow and get there; so in today's podcast episode we talk about the 10 people you need in your life.
1. The Cheerleader:
These are your biggest fans, always there to cheer you on. They believe in you when you struggle to believe in yourself. They believe in you and inspire you to shoot for the stars. They will cheer you on to succeed and even when you fall short of the goal, they will remind you it’s a bump in the road and nothing more. They never doubt your abilities and encourage you to pursue whatever it is that you have your heart set on despite the disapproval you may get elsewhere. These are the people that will not laugh at you when you say you want to try out something crazy or take a higher risk. Having this person in your life brings positivity and encouragement. Your cheerleader will teach you to believe in yourself, maximize your potential, and to never settle.
2. The Motivator:
The motivator is someone who inspires you. When adversity hits, this person will often help you get back on track. Sometimes it’s his/her words that charge you; other times it’s his/her actions. The motivator understands what drives you and they know how to tap into that energy.
3. Role models:
While you may not be close to the role model in your life, you need someone to look up to. I have several role models in my life, but not all of them are friends or relatives. Teachers, co-workers, bosses and group leaders often fit this type. Often times, this person motivates you to become a better person. They may not need to be by your side, but their influence is enough to push you when you're feeling low.
4. The Mentor:
Having a mentor is incredibly beneficial for your personal growth. At any given point of time you might, like me, have multiple mentors. Mentor can help guide you through uncertainties in your career and life, give you advice on what next steps to take and help you avoid mistakes based on their own experience. While we e typically look for mentors to support us in our career, but there are other types of mentors, I refer to as wise – givers. Sometimes this one is the hardest type to find. This is the friend or relative who can help you through difficult situations. They're wise beyond their years and often keep you from making choices you'll regret.
5. The Coach:
The coach is someone that guide you through questions to help you come with your own conclusions. A coach also is someone who gives you tough love; telling you what you need to hear, but may not want to hear. Now, you may already have someone in your life that is willing to tell you the things you don't want to hear, but are they doing it from a place of belief? Are they telling you the hard things because they believe in you, or are they sharing those things to bring you down? Just like the teacher, the coach may not be a friend you already have in your circle. Spend time thinking of ways you can find the right coach to push you forward.
6. The Confident:
I personally believe that everyone needs someone that they feel completely safe confiding in. This person is trustworthy, but also never judgmental. They love you and are there for you through the good, the bad and the ugly. You know whatever you tell them is safe between the two of you.
7. The Challenger:
The challenger is the person who will push you out of your comfort zone. You may think you have your mind made up, until you have a conversation with the challenger in your life. The best thing about this type is that they force you to think through things in a different way, which leads to better decisions. He or she can give you honest, meaningful feedback that helps you grow. My husband is great at this because he does it from a place of love and support. Whether it’s a conversation about work or about our kids, he challenges me to see beyond my comfort zone to the bigger picture. It doesn’t do you any good to surround yourself with “yes men.” This challenger helps push you to be the best version of yourself that you can be. They ask the hard questions and force you to really challenge yourself. They help you navigate your career, relationships, and family life by pushing you to be the best you can be. Take their brutal honesty as a gift.
8. The Accountability Partner:
The accountability partner is someone who will help you keep your commitments. They understand your goals and what you need to do to accomplish them. Finding people without an agenda who can truly support you while doing the tough job of holding you accountable, will make all the difference. This is the person you share your dreams and goals with. They're also the person who keeps you on track. I always share my goals and the steps I'm planning to take with my accountability partner. They ask me about my progress regularly. I don't want to disappoint them, so I'm much more likely to stay on track.
9. Someone who understands your career:
Sometimes this person is a co-worker that's also a friend or just a friend who's in the same field as you. When you need to vent about work or talk about something exciting from your day, people who don't understand your job may not have a clue what you're talking about. Having someone who “gets” your job will help increase excitement after a big achievement or make you feel better after a bad day. It's always nice having people in your life that share something in common with you. Your job is no exception.
10. Friends
Friends are one of the most beautiful gifts in life. I believe there are three main types of friends
Life long friends: They watch you evolve and accept you at all stages. You know your life long friends when they make you feel grounded and understand the big picture of your life.
Life stage friends: They face similar challenges as you and offer great advice. These friends naturally evolve as you change stages in your life.
Likeness friends: A friend who is in a similar place in a certain category of your life. This friend is going to push you to grow and act as a resource to you as you move through your journey.
You'll likely have several people that fill these roles throughout your life. These types of people drastically change your life and help keep you happy. While you might not always have them all at the same time, you'll usually find that you have them when you need them most.