Have you noticed that whenever you change, you’re sure to upset someone close to you? Usually someone who’s resisting moving forward themselves. It could be a spouse, a parent, or a friend.
It happened to me with my second husband. I was an aspiring journalist when we met, sorely underpaid, but with lots of free time. Three months after the wedding, I decided to focus on building a profitable business.
He didn’t like this ‘new me’ one bit. It eventually led to our divorce.
At first I was crushed. But when I started interviewing six-figure women for my second book, it hit me.
To go to the next level financially, I had to surround myself with people who were cheering me on, not trying to rein me in.
Underearners (like I was) tend to hang out with pessimists, worrywarts, naysayers. The only thing they’re likely to support is the status quo.
High earners, however, make conscious efforts to cultivate new relationships with people of the same ilk, people who cheer them on, hold them accountable, model what’s possible and inspire them to aim higher.
Creating a supportive community is mandatory for two reasons.
First, change is difficult and requires courage. If the people around you are going to judge, ridicule or reject you, it’s way too easy to throw in the towel.
The second reason is best explained by the old adage, “You become who you’re with.” Not only are we attracted to people like us, we also unconsciously mimic others to feel like we fit in.
Rest assured, creating a supportive community doesn’t mean banishing people you love from your life. But—and this is a big BUT—you can no longer abandon your needs to make everyone else happy.
Do you have people in your life who will support and encourage your success? If not, how will you go about creating that supportive community? Leave me a comment below.
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