I posted the video below on Instagram today after realizing I have some really dope friends in my life.
They’re all doing great things in their lives — growing businesses, excelling in their careers, raising families and everything in between. The part I love the most is that we all support and push one another to be better people.
I think it’s extremely important, and maybe even vital, to your success that you surround yourself with people who have your back. I talk a lot about the mental struggle that comes with pushing through your fears and committing to giving your all to your business. Having supportive people in your life alleviates some of the stress that comes with that struggle.
You should be able to share your dreams with your friends without fear of being insulted or laughed at. You should be able to tell them about your ideas and get their feedback — even if whatever you’re selling isn’t something they’d buy. You should be able to count on them to give you the kick in the butt you’ll sometimes need in order to be accountable for your actions (or inaction).
If you don’t have these friends, you need to find them. The people you spend your time with are a direct reflection of you. If you’re spending time with losers, the likelihood of you being a loser is pretty high. If you’re spending time with people who are out in the world making things happen, you can’t help but to do the same.
Sometimes we love our friends so much that it’s hard to admit that they’re hindering our growth, so here are 5 questions you can ask yourself to determine whether your friends are good for you and your business goals:
Are my friends a good representation of me?
If your friends aren’t a good representation of you, chances are, you don’t think they’re doing productive things in life. It’s not that they’re going to go out and be the face of your business — unless that’s what you want — but looking at your friends can be like looking at yourself. If they aren’t a good representation of you, then you may need to make some adjustments in your own life — starting with them.
Are my friends doing the types of things that I want to do in life?
If not, you know what you gotta do. Get with people who are. If your friends are always negative or into doing things you are focused on moving away from, then they can’t be a major part of your life any more. Time to chunk the deuces and recast your friendships.
Do my friends support my dreams?
This is major, because you need all the support you can get, and if you can’t count on your closest friends to support your efforts, it could eventually create tension you don’t need. Plus, it just feels great to have people cheering you on when no one else is paying you any attention. Get you a squad who’ll be your #1 fans.
Am I uncomfortable telling my friends my goals?
If you’re afraid that, when you share your dreams and goals with your friends, they will laugh at you, insult you, or even worse — steal your ideas, then you definitely need new friends. You should be able to discern sincere constructive criticism from being mocked or laughed at. If you’re getting the latter, move around and find new people to hang out with.
Do my friends inspire me to be better?
Obvs, these are the types of friends you want. Your friends should be challenging you with honest feedback that makes you better as a person and as an entrepreneur. You should also be able to look at your friends lives and be inspired. They don’t necessarily have to be entrepreneurs, but they’ll likely have qualities or some aspect of life that motivates you to be great.