Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?

The people we surround ourselves with are a reflection of who we are. This isn’t intentional but it happens.

Jim Rohn said that we are the sum of the 5 people we surround ourselves with. As we interact with people, we begin to learn, grow, and become more like them.

It’s not a bad thing. Especially if you’re surrounding yourself with high performers.

Group of friends enjoying time together

Photo by Helena Lopes

These high performers will lift you up, much like a rising tide lifts all ships.

I truly believe this. It is good to surround yourself with people who are going in the same direction as you (this isn’t to say you shouldn’t interact with those you disagree with).

Today, I want to ask you, who are you surrounding yourself with? I’ll also share with you a few people I’ve spent a lot more time with this year (outside of my family).

These men and women have helped me grow into the leader I am and am becoming. They’ve helped me see what I should be doing, what I haven’t been doing, and what I need to stop doing.

Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?

Here are 5 men and women I am surrounding myself with lately. They are an encouragement to me and they have helped me achieve what I couldn’t on my own.

Kevin Watson:

Kevin Watson contacted me a long time ago after reading my blog posts and emails. I reached back out to him recently and we have had regular conversations ever since.

His words have encouraged me to open the doors to a coaching program for readers of my blog. It’s encouraged me to think outside of my box and find new ways to help emerging leaders.

If you’d like to connect with Kevin, you can find him at his website.

Surround yourself with people who will challenge you to move forward.

The Aldea Crew:

I know you won’t know who these men and women are but they’ve become a mighty lifeline to me. During the COVID-19 crisis, I found a community there in addition to the community I already had with my band of brothers.

Authors like the former smuggler Kenny and Melissa. Good people like Sam, Jeremy, and others. The dogs, Mac, Brutus, and the rest.

It’s a small, intimate community where we can ask each other the tough questions. We can discuss hot-button topics and walk away friends.

The stretching my mind has gotten from these interactions is great.

Surround yourself with people who will allow you to have interesting conversations.

Drew Young:

Drew joined our youth group as the youth pastor during the Coronavirus pandemic. He made an interesting transition in a time of upheaval.

I’m glad he’s joined our band of youth leaders and pastors. He’s helping us become the best we can be so our students can become the best they can be.

Surround yourself with people who will help you become better so you can help others.

The Toastmaster Crew:

I joined Toastmasters earlier this year to help improve my confidence with public speaking. The men and women in this group have been an integral part of my improvement in this area.

A huge shoutout to Jerry, Gary, Joannie, Sandy, Evan, Randy, Roger, and all the others. You make Friday afternoons interesting and challenging.

Surround yourself with people who will give you positive and negative feedback.

Kevin DeVries:

I’ve known Kevin for a few years now. I originally met Kevin when he spoke at our church. I really got to know Kevin when he went winter camping with us.

The conversations opened up my eyes to a whole world of authenticity that isn’t regularly seen. Kevin is an open book about his life, his mistakes, and his dreams.

Every time I connect with Kevin, I am reminded that there are amazing people in this world. There are people who are changing lives. Kevin is one of those people.

He does this through Grace Explorations and Base Camp meetings.

Surround yourself with people who are authentically real.

My question, once more, is who are you surrounding yourself with?

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