10-DAY 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY COUNTDOWN- DAY 5: Surround Yourself with Supportive Relationships
It’s Day 5 in my 10-day countdown to my 10th anniversary of my last day before becoming a full-time speaker and entrepreneur.
Today, we’re diving into the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive relationships and building a team.
First, let me say that one of the most frustrating and honestly disheartening aspects of my journey long before becoming an entrepreneur. Certainly afterward has been lacking the support I thought I would have. Especially from the people I thought would be the ones to support me the most.
So if you have financial backers, people who show up at your events, people who buy your stuff, or even just people who share your posts. And those people share your DNA or have known you and said they would be there…then great!
But if you are like many entrepreneurs and find your greatest supporters are not your closest friends and family and may, in fact, be strangers, then know that you are not alone.
I’ll never forget that in 2010 when I published my memoir and a few years later when I started S.O. What!, I was so excited. Then I was so shocked as I learned how alone I was. How many people weren’t happy for me and were even mad at me.
As the entrepreneurial journey got harder and even more lonely, it hurt even more.
I’m grateful for the friends and family who were active supporters and tried to understand why others weren’t. But that’s when I remembered something I had already learned as a teen mom away at college. Back then, I joined various campus organizations where I met lots of new people. I reached out to faculty and staff to make sure they knew who I was and how hard I was trying. Moving to Memphis only knowing five people. I build a support network that even served as babysitters. When I was in college and when I worked games and concerts as a marketing manager for the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum.
So I knew I had to build new relationships of support. One of the most valuable resources for those supportive relationships has been the National Speakers Association (NSA). There I found my speaker tribe, people who understood exactly what I was doing. And I am trying to accomplish this new career I had chosen. From NSA, I found my mastermind group where we meet every week to discuss our goals and ways to support each other.
They say, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” and I couldn’t agree more. The individuals we choose to surround ourselves with can either lift us up or bring us down. This reminds me of a conversation I recently had with one of my high school friends where we talked about our decision to go to college. We laughed as we remembered that it never was a question because we (our group) were all planning to go to college. So, all of our conversations were aligned to the same goal.
I learned early to connect with positive and like-minded individuals. Their support, encouragement, and belief in me fueled my confidence and propelled me toward my dreams.
So, your challenge for today is to reach out to someone who has been supportive or inspiring in your life and express your gratitude. Let them know how much their presence means to you. By nurturing these supportive relationships, you’ll create a solid support system that will cheer you on during your journey.
Additionally, consider joining a community or networking group, or association aligned with your dreams. Surround yourself with individuals who share your passions and aspirations. Together, you’ll uplift and inspire each other to reach new heights.
Remember, your dream team is not just about the number of people but the quality of connections. Surround yourself with those who believe in you, celebrate your victories, and lend a helping hand during challenging times.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where we’ll tackle a common hurdle—overcoming self-doubt. Get ready to silence your inner critic and unleash the confident warrior within you!
Day 9: Cultivate a Resilient Mindset
