Are your friends keeping you from a successful business?

Guest post by Kate Powers

Tonight I gave a talk about the invisible roadblocks that keep people stuck and prevent them from achieving their dreams, goals and success. One of the roadblocks I discussed hit home for many. It’s like your parents always said, who you hang around with will get you in trouble!

The five people you spend the most time with, talking to, and listening to are a strong indicator of what you can expect out of your life. If you have big goals and dreams, but surround yourself with small-minded people who can’t understand why you started your business, you may want to step back and engage some big dreamers who have achieved great success.

I’m not suggesting you trade in all your family and friends, but that you guard yourself from dream stealers and insulate yourself with positive role models – people who have achieved what you desire to achieve. Sounds great, but how do you put this into practice? Here are a few simple changes you can make today to protect yourself (and your business) from the attack.

Identify who you associate with daily. Who are you talking to each day via phone, text, email and social media? If the five people you communicate with the most aren’t achieving goals, inspiring you or at the least cheering you on, you may need to evaluate how much time and head space you are giving them. It is crucial to surround yourself with positive, supportive people who encourage you.

Get connected to others who have achieved the goals for which you are striving. Two specific connections I suggest for this are mentorship and mastermind teams.

Mentorship is defined as someone who is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. This definition sums up what you should look for in a mentor. I believe a mentor is crucial for success in business. Mentorship usually comes with a price tag, but your return on investment will be invaluable. Being connected to someone who has achieved what you’re trying to do not only proves it is possible, but also allows you to learn faster and hopefully avoid some mistakes.

Mastermind teams can be very powerful. Napoleon Hill said, “No two minds ever come together without a third invisible force, which may be likened to a ‘third mind.’ When a group of individual minds are coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual in the group.” It is the flow of ideas and energy that make mastermind teams powerful and useful in your business.

In looking at who you associate with, don’t forget to include social media. Sometimes we don’t realize how negative the feed we receive is from this outlet. As a business owner, I have a social media presence and have utilized the power of social media to grow my business. I apply these same principles online as I do to my face-to-face connections. Sometimes we don’t realize what a profound effect social media can have on our mood and our success.

Take a look at the conversations you are having via social media. Are they encouraging, supportive and positive? Or are they negative and draining? The five people, websites, and pages you interact with on social media will affect your business, so be sure to surround yourself with positive, like-minded people who support your goals.

Kate Powers is a published author, speaker and coach. Kate shares information, experience and useful tools to help women rethink their limiting beliefs, incorporate their values in all areas, reduce emotional baggage and move forward with confidence and knowing. Kate has been a passionate advocate for her clients for over 10 years and recently released her second book.

Visit Kate at www.KFPowers.com.