05.09.22
ProSpeak: Keeping the Right Company
Leslee Hill, WBC Director, published on BusinessPeople.com
What five people surround you the most? Choose wisely.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” says Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and highly-respected author. Can you list your five people? People coming together creates culture. What is honored in a culture gets cultivated. Your connections influence your mindset, confidence, aspirations and behavior. Surround yourself with brilliant minds who encourage and inspire you to up your game. Here are three ways to do it.
Find a Mentor
Seek successful people. Mentoring sessions introduce ways of thinking, enlarge your vision and challenge assumptions. Be inspired to continuous development. Business owners working with business coaches saw 46% profit margin growth. About 70% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentor programs. Mentees were five times more likely to advance in pay-grade. A case study cites a 72% higher retention rate for mentor program participants.
Create/Join a Mastermind
A mastermind is a group of five to six peers who meet to give and receive honest, focused advice and feedback. It may include brainstorming, discussions or educational presentations. It builds your support network and accountability.
Establish a Board of Directors
There is no shortcut to experience. Expert guidance is crucial for your entrepreneurial journey. Businesses and organizations create boards of directors. You can, too—even if it is an informal one. Maybe include a role model, critic, strategist, industry expert, accountability partner, encourager or connector. This trustworthy group offers valuable perspectives and insights. Cultivate your board with individuals of various skills and backgrounds. Seek input on challenges you face. As these relationships develop, your board will grow into a handful of mentors. Plan monthly meetings with them.
