I recently attended the 50th birthday party for one of my closest friends and I was reminded of the power of the inner circle of people that we all have in our life. What is this inner circle of people and how do they impact our lives? You may have a different inner circle for your personal life and your business life but I would pose this question – who is influencing your life and the decisions you make? I have recently made some major life decisions and have put considerable thought into who makes up my inner circle and how these people influence my thoughts and actions and how their support will help me achieve my goals.
Consider the following when evaluating who is, or who needs to be, in your inner circle:
- Are they holding me accountable to remain consistent in my values and beliefs
- Are they supportive of me achieving my goals
- Are they adding value to my life
- Are they encouraging me to reach beyond what I believe is my potential
- Are they willing to be there for me no matter what the situation
- Are they someone I can turn to with any problem or issue
- Are they a positive influence in my life
- Are they like minded in what I believe in
Many of us have never really considered who makes up our inner circle. Some would suggest that your inner circle is those people that you spend most of your time with. It has been said that “we will become a combination of the five people we spend the most time with.” I have heard this quote used in many different ways related to such topics as values, attitude, financial success, weight loss and others. The common thread is how our “inner circle” of people influence our thoughts and behaviors. If you think you can identify your inner circle, put this post to the test and evaluate how these people are influencing your thoughts and actions. How do they align with the bullet points listed above?
John Maxwell in his The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership says that “A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.” We all have goals we want to achieve in both our personal life and in our business career. If you are finding it difficult to achieve your objectives or have never thought about who is in your inner circle, I would encourage you to do it today. If Maxwell is correct, what kind of limitations might you have on reaching your potential and achieving your goals?
Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 5/27/12
