You're Only As Good As The Company You Keep

This post was written by guest author Jason Young who has run leadership workshops at the Village in the past.

There is danger in carelessly inviting people to speak into your life. Everyone has something to contribute, but it may not be qualified by time and experience. Some people, in fact, will do more harm than good. The key is to pick the right person so you can learn while you lead.

Have you tried to identify the different roles people play in your life? For me, it always helps to have certain people around me. Here are 10 types of people to consider building into your community:

Clarifier: Asks helpful and difficult questions.
Specialist: Provides precision focus, moving you toward the intended target.
Challenger: Implores you to act boldly.
Creator: Brings an idea into existence by crafting workable action plans from just a few actionable points.
Connector: Leads you to other people.
Wise Elder: Lends experience and perspective.
Friend: Shares life’s journey without judgment and loves you
Strategist: Creates step-by-step simplicity from complex data and conversations.
Dreamer: Motivates you to dream without fear.
Coach: Builds on your strengths, corrects poor performance, and encourages when energy fades.

Give it a go. See if you can name someone in each of these categories, and then intentionally pursue those relationships. It may make you a better entrepreneur.