23 Jan Who Is Influencing You
Who influences you? To whom do you lend your ears and heart? The answers to these questions determine the trajectory of your life, career, and business success in the NOW and in the future.
For the sake of conversation, there are 3 types of people who may be influencing your choices. Your:
1. Inner circle,
2. Peers, and/or
3. Guides (mentors & coaches).
Here are some realities:
a. Very few people are LUCKY enough to have the third category of people within their inner circle and as friends & colleagues.
b. Some people think they must listen and get influenced by ALL without ‘discrimination.’
c. Many people are influenced by their INNER CIRCLE without discerning & scrutinizing the motives & intentions of their closest people.
DISCLAIMERS! When I’m talking about the people who influence you, I’m:
1. Not talking about ORDINARY advice such as what you should wear, where to take a vacation…
2. Talking about when you make LIFE-ALTERING decisions that affect your life, career, and business.
3. Not encouraging ignoring anyone who gives you advice & feedback. Listen intently, process, & qualify the advice you get from others. Take those with merit and drop the rest while remaining grateful to those who care to offer their opinions.
Here is what you MUST know: The SUCCESSFUL ONES smartly choose who deserves their EARS and HEARTS and who doesn’t. They QUALIFY! Do you?
Someone has to EARN to influence them. Proximity alone doesn’t cut it. They only listen to those with track records in the areas they want to change, grow, and/or advance.
What about you?
1. Who influences you the MOST?
2. Who do you TRUST to help you gain clarity, context, and courage to make life-altering and critical decisions and choices? Why?
3. What measurements have you implemented to help you FILTER the right guides?
If you desire to GROW & ADVANCE, the choice is clear!!! Choose those who have track records & those who have your BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
Some of the questions you should ask include but not limited to:
1. WHO do I need in my third category?
2. What CRITERIA should I be using to select? Among your criteria, select ONLY those who are optimistic, raise your bar, stretch you, and take you to the next level. Regardless of how great, genius, & extraordinary your would-be coach or mentor is, if they are pessimistic, put you down, and lower your bar, you don’t need such guides.
3. What do I NEED from them? Be CLEAR about your ASK.
4. WHERE can I find them?
5. How can I GAIN PROXIMITY with them? Don’t hesitate to PAY if you’ve the means.
Don’t get overwhelmed; start from the first step and begin with the 1st person.
The good news is that this person may already be on social media. Even if you may not get 1-on-1 access, for whatever reason, you can read, listen, & watch what they share.
In 2025 and BEYOND, our major turning points come when we stand on the shoulders of those who went ahead of us. If you’ve not yet, BEGIN that journey TODAY…