The power of your inner circle…

Talk to most life coaches, and they’ll tell you, “You’re the average of people you spend the most time around.”

There’s an interesting Harvard study that proves this point.

Researchers found your chance of being obese increases 57% if a close friend is obese, 40% if a sibling is obese, and 37% if your spouse is.

As an executive coach and advisor, I think this advice is so applicable to career and business goals.

Consider this question: what do you want most in your career you don’t have today?

Now, think about the people you spend the most time with at work. Are they actively helping you achieve what you want most? And if they aren’t helping, how are you augmenting them?

When I was a young Director in my career, what I wanted most was to be a CIO. But I reported to a non-IT boss who had little interest or experience in technology.

I realized how hard it was to grow in that environment and decided to be more intentional about my plan. More exposure to people outside the four walls of my business was needed.

Mentors, community, and coaches were the path forward. However, I had one rule of thumb: I needed help from people who already achieved what I wanted most.

And it worked! Within two years, I landed my first CIO job at the age of 29. My path was greatly accelerated by spending more time with people who actively helped me achieve my goal.

This week’s message is short and direct: don’t go it alone!

If you feel stuck, be intentional about finding a mentor, coach, or community that can help you grow and learn. But be sure to find people who’ve already achieved what you want most.

When there’s an admission price, don’t be afraid to ask your employer to cover the cost if it will improve your day-to-day performance.

If you can’t get reimbursed, invest in yourself.

Do whatever it takes to surround yourself with great role models who can help you thrive.

Make it a great day!
Chris