It’s crucial to build networks

How are you going with your plans to achieve something/do something new this year?

Have you told anyone what you have in mind and what you’ve got planned to achieve it?

We have a tendency to think we are all on our own when we set a goal, but it’s a good idea to think about who can help us make it happen.

Who could we be accountable to? Who could support us? Whose shoulder can we cry on?

I encourage you to hit pause and consider these questions.

“Who do I know?” is a powerful question.

Consider the case of a young man who is going to university, an experience neither of his parents had. Mum and Dad are providing all the support they can, but they have no idea what’s involved or what the young man should expect in the first few weeks. Who could help them? Who does he know who’s been to university who can talk him through what to expect over orientation week and the study demands that follow?

Or consider the case of a young man working towards a shared goal with a friend. They planned to get fit for rugby season by running three times a week together.

But his friend has pulled back to once-a-week runs already. What are the options for the other man? Does he give up too, keep going by himself or find another person to train with? Who does he know who might want to join him out running?

Another scenario that has played out many times is that of a young woman (or man) working fulltime while living at home to save as much money as possible to go overseas with her friend. She is devastated when the friend pulls the plug.

Who does she know who can help her come up with options to continue with the trip? Maybe there’s a friend of the family who did the same trip solo a few years ago and is able to support and encourage her to go it alone? Maybe she can find someone who is happy to do part of the trip with her.

We are each other’s most powerful resource, so while you ask “Who do I know?” to help yourself, you may find that people ask you for help too.

Next time we’ll look at overcoming those hurdles which pop up to challenge us along the way to our goal.