Choose your Crew
—
We all have a circle or a sphere of friends. Some we may have met as far back as grade school. Some we’ve come to know through work or a club we belong to. Others came along as a package deal from another friend or family member. As we go through our path in life, we pick people up along the way who end up in our world, our social circle.
Then there is, what I call, my “Crew.” These are the people who fuel me. They encourage and motivate me to learn more, do more, be more. I look up to their drive, energy, tenaciousness.
I have found that it serves me well to periodically “assess” who I surround myself with to ensure that I’m spending time with those who encourage and inspire me most, and vice versa. The intent is to avoid getting stagnant, and to continually seek out and spend time with those who help you to level up.
A quick story:
Eighteen months ago I moved from Florida – as a newly single mom with my two young daughters and a growing, international business – to New York City. At that time, I had a couple of friends in the city but was largely starting over in terms of building a local network – a community.
So, I sought to surround myself with people who I looked up to. Those with a strong focus that I could identify with, and reciprocate.
The result is, I am connected with individuals who continually help me to raise my Barre, and who truly support my goals and value and worth. I now have a super-strong network – In NYC and beyond – who help to make me a smarter business owner, a stronger woman, and a better person.
I urge you to pause, take some time to evaluate what you give to others in your circle and what they give to you. Think about who motivates and empowers you. And then stay open to finding – and maybe even pursuing- more of those people.
Consider this from Forbes Magazine:
One of the best ways to improve on a skill is to practice it with someone who’s better than. This idea of playing with someone better than you translates nicely to your personal and career successes as well.
It goes on to say:
You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” It’s common for us to underestimate the importance of the company we keep. We need people, whether they’re teachers, mentors, family or trusted friends, who challenge us and push us to be better. The right circle of influence raises the bar, helping us to set new, loftier expectations of ourselves. When we surround ourselves with positive, successful people they consciously (and subconsciously) challenge us to be our best selves.
If you are eager to pursue more positive forces in your life, to build and/or extend your crew, start to seek out events and networks in your community (if you love to read find a book club if you want to start a business seek out a networking group who meets monthly/weekly to start engaging with like-minded people).
This can be done virtually as well as in person. I have the most incredible crew through my Xtend Barre studios and OpenFit members – many of whom I have never met but continue to motivate and inspire me. Conversely, I delete social accounts and other affiliations that do not serve me.
Because ultimately – when you spend time with good souls who nourish you, it can only make you better.
