Latest / The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson / The Power of Your Business Circle
Transcript
- 0:36Jennifer Johnson: Today we're diving into a topic that can make or break your business journey the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.
- 0:43Jennifer Johnson: You've probably heard the saying you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with In business.
- 0:49Jennifer Johnson: This concept is not just a catchy phrase.
- 0:52Jennifer Johnson: It's a fundamental principle that can really impact your success, your growth and overall well-being as an entrepreneur or business leader.
- 0:59Jennifer Johnson: So let's start by exploring why the people that you surround yourself with in business are so crucial.
- 1:06Jennifer Johnson: There's many, many reasons.
- 1:08Jennifer Johnson: First and foremost is influence on your mindset.
- 1:11Jennifer Johnson: The people around you shape your thinking, your attitudes and your beliefs about what's possible in business, and your network can be a valuable source of diverse expertise and experiences.
- 1:24Jennifer Johnson: So you're going to meet people from all walks of life, and you have to be open to that, and that's why your business circle matters.
- 1:32Jennifer Johnson: It also brings opportunities and connections.
- 1:35Jennifer Johnson: The right circle can open doors to new partnerships, clients, resources and then the support and motivation.
- 1:44Jennifer Johnson: Entrepreneurship can be challenging.
- 1:46Jennifer Johnson: You can certainly at times, feel like you're alone, and having the right support system is an invaluable thing to have.
- 1:55Jennifer Johnson: It also offers accountability.
- 1:57Jennifer Johnson: The right people can keep you focused and committed to your goals, and another kind of one that wasn't the top of my mind until recently was innovation and creativity.
- 2:09Jennifer Johnson: When you bring in diverse perspectives, it can help you spark new ideas and approaches to problem-solving, because sometimes we're in our own world, we're in our own lane and we only see it one way.
- 2:21Jennifer Johnson: Somebody comes in from outside your industry and gives you pointers, or you see into their world, and it can help you make really big changes in your business.
- 2:31Jennifer Johnson: And then company culture For business leaders, the people you surround yourself with, will set the tone for your entire organization.
- 2:41Jennifer Johnson: So now let's discuss the types of people you should aim to have in your business circle.
- 2:46Jennifer Johnson: That's kind of what I call.
- 2:47Jennifer Johnson: It is my business circle.
- 2:48Jennifer Johnson: First would be mentors.
- 2:51Jennifer Johnson: We've talked about mentors before.
- 2:53Jennifer Johnson: They're experienced individuals who can provide guidance, share wisdom and help you navigate challenges.
- 3:00Jennifer Johnson: I have a mentor that literally I probably talk to at least once a week for something.
- 3:06Jennifer Johnson: I actually have several mentors that I do that with.
- 3:08Jennifer Johnson: It's a very healthy thing to have, and a healthy thing to make sure that you surround yourself with Peers, so we're talking fellow entrepreneurs or professionals similar in their stage of their journey as you are, who can relate to what you're going through and offer you mutual support, then everybody should have a visionary, big picture thinkers who can inspire you and push you to think beyond what you're currently doing.
- 3:33Jennifer Johnson: And then we all have to have a specialist, somebody who is an expert in different fields, who can provide specific knowledge or skills.
- 6:08Jennifer Johnson: I have somebody that I contact regularly that's in my business circle, that's an HR expert.
- 6:14Jennifer Johnson: That's important.
- 6:15Jennifer Johnson: The other one that is really really important is connectors.
- 6:19Jennifer Johnson: They're people with extensive networks who can introduce you to valuable contacts and opportunities.
- 6:25Jennifer Johnson: I am blessed enough in my life to have more than one connector in my life and that has been instrumental in the growth of my business.
- 6:35Jennifer Johnson: We also need to have a cheerleader, someone who's going to be positive and supportive, who believe in you and your vision.
- 6:40Jennifer Johnson: Even when the times get tough and ugly, they're there for you.
- 6:44Jennifer Johnson: A devil's advocate yes, we all need to have that constructive criticism that challenge our ideas and help us refine them, and there's a fine line, but definitely need a devil's advocate.
- 6:58Jennifer Johnson: And then executors action-oriented people who could help turn those ideas into realities.
- 7:04Jennifer Johnson: So how do you know if you're in good company right now?
- 7:09Jennifer Johnson: I've got a few signs that I'm going to share with you.
- 7:12Jennifer Johnson: You feel energized and motivated after spending time with them.
- 7:16Jennifer Johnson: They challenge you to grow and improve, and they're honest with you, even when it's hard.
- 7:21Jennifer Johnson: They celebrate your successes, they offer help and resources.
- 7:25Jennifer Johnson: You trust them with confidential information and they have a positive, solution-oriented mindset.
- 7:31Jennifer Johnson: So those are all ways to know that you are surrounded by the right people.
- 7:36Jennifer Johnson: But how do you know when you may not be?
- 7:39Jennifer Johnson: What are the warning signs there?
- 7:41Jennifer Johnson: Well, they're always negative or pessimistic.
- 7:43Jennifer Johnson: They discourage you from pursuing your goals.
- 7:46Jennifer Johnson: They're overly competitive or threatened.
- 7:49Jennifer Johnson: I think we probably all have one of those.
- 7:50Jennifer Johnson: They drain your energy, they're not trustworthy or reliable, they're not open to new ideas, they don't respect your time or your boundaries.
- 7:59Jennifer Johnson: Those are all red flags.
- 8:02Jennifer Johnson: Run, run, run.
- 8:05Jennifer Johnson: Or at least take a look at the situation or the person and question that in your head.
- 8:12Jennifer Johnson: So now that we understand the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right people, let's talk about how we cultivate that network.
- 8:17Jennifer Johnson: Be intentional, actively seek out those relationships with those people who align with your values and goals.
- 8:23Jennifer Johnson: Attend industry events like seminars and conferences they're great places to meet people like that.
- 8:29Jennifer Johnson: Join professional organizations.
- 8:32Jennifer Johnson: Leverage social media, especially something like LinkedIn.
- 8:36Jennifer Johnson: One that often gets overlooked is to offer value.
- 8:40Jennifer Johnson: Build relationships first by considering how you can help them before start asking for help.
- 8:46Jennifer Johnson: Create your own mastermind group.
- 8:49Jennifer Johnson: Gather a group of peers who you know all are going through the same kind of things and have conversations with them and then reassess as you grow.
- 9:00Jennifer Johnson: Your needs may change, so continue assessing that.
- 9:03Jennifer Johnson: Building that circle is just the first step.
- 9:07Jennifer Johnson: You need to make sure that, in order to maintain and strengthen this, that you're reliable, you stay in touch with them, not just when you need something, and you also need to be vulnerable, share your challenges as well as your successes, because that's going to build a stronger connection and then, like I said, provide that value for them.
- 9:29Jennifer Johnson: Surrounding yourself with people that are right for you, or the right people, doesn't just feel good.
- 9:35Jennifer Johnson: It can have tangible impacts on your business and your personal development, like accelerated learning You're going to learn things much quicker because it's right from the source.
- 9:44Jennifer Johnson: Increased resilience it can help you bounce back from setbacks much quicker.
- 9:49Jennifer Johnson: More creativity, because you're getting different perspectives.
- 9:53Jennifer Johnson: Better decision-making, because sometimes you get different answers from different people and you can help.
- 10:00Jennifer Johnson: That helps you kind of refine what you're thinking.
- 10:04Jennifer Johnson: Greater accountability.
- 10:06Jennifer Johnson: Expanded opportunities with your network.
- 10:09Jennifer Johnson: And then personal fulfillment.
- 10:10Jennifer Johnson: I want to emphasize that the people you surround yourself with in business are not again just nice to have.
- 10:17Jennifer Johnson: They're critical.
- 10:17Jennifer Johnson: They're very critical to your business.
- 10:20Jennifer Johnson: So take a minute to reflect on your current business circle.
- 10:23Jennifer Johnson: Are these the people who are going to challenge you, support you and help you grow?
- 10:28Jennifer Johnson: If not, what steps can you take to start building your network that you need?
- 10:33Jennifer Johnson: Remember, cultivating the right business circle is an ongoing process.
- 10:38Jennifer Johnson: It requires attention, intention, effort and sometimes those really difficult decisions.