Scarlett Letter #21: Surrounding yourself by people that inspire you?

Over the holiday weekend, I had a chance to spend time with a fairly new group of friends. In this case, I was the ‘outsider’. They had all traveled together previously and had built solid friendships. I knew very little about any of them, so it was cool that they included me in their Michigan excursion.

What I discovered was yet another set of truly talented, risk-taking, intelligent, well-traveled, creative women. I say ‘another’ set because I already possess friends from both genders that never cease to impress me with their prowess in culture, athletics, business, philanthropy, and artistic endeavors.

So this weekend, I added these new people to my world: two successful entrepreneurs in public relations and interior design respectively; a senior-level international member of a Fortune 100 company; and a business development representative who has clearly reaped success at a young age. Oh, not to mention, the whole lot of them are all extensive international travelers, well-read, volunteers in funky and much-needed scenarios, sailors, killer road bikers, multi-lingual, and fashionistas. {Just to name a few of their extraordinary traits!}

Now, if I may indulge in boasting about other friends….(this seems like the place to do it)…well, there’s a fashion designer; scarf designer (promotes fair trade; the scarves are made in Boliva); child psychologist; executive director of a large Chicago non-profit; corporate social responsibility (CSR) professional; senior business developer for an international transportation firm; director of annual giving for a prominent Chicago museum; successful water colorist; frame shop owner; social media trailblazer; an array of entrepreneurs in various industries…the list goes on and on.

What is it that I respect about all of these people? Even with their notable ambition, they do not let their careers fully define them. They consider expansion of the mind, soul, and body to be non-negotiable. Remarkable.

And what does this mean to you, dear readers? Well, we often have more control over who we spend time with in our personal lives as compared to business (especially if we work for someone else). My array of friends and acquaintances do wonders for my psyche. They inspire me; they (sometimes indirectly) give me valuable ideas and feedback; and they make me proud to know them.

Here’s a suggestion on how to ensure that you are fully appreciating your own circles—business and personal; because I do a lot of public speaking, I play this game in my head:

Pretend you are preparing an introduction for each of these people to a large audience. Think about which traits to highlight, setting them up for successful presentations. What have they done that has most touched you? How have you experienced them in give-take scenarios? What noteworthy attribute might they be too shy to share about themselves?

By doing this exercise, you will hopefully develop a deeper appreciation for those whom you are surrounded by. I suggest that you also try this exercise with your work colleagues, as you may discover that the teams you spend 40+ hours per week with actually have some wonderful redeeming qualities.

Rejuvenating your enthusiasm for friends/colleagues talents and accomplishments will likely rub off on you in a positive way, motivating you to further elevate yourself to reach your own full potential!