As I go through this 31 day challenge, I think it is important to have a good support system.  For several reasons:

1. Encouragement
2. Honest Feedback
3. Accountability

I think I am pretty lucky to have such a great and diverse group from which to draw from regularly.  Here are some examples…

Family

You can succeed without that support of your family.  You hear stories all the time how people beat the odds given their family life.  But it sure does help when you do have it as you engage with them daily. Your time and your success rely heavily on them understanding your goals and what you have to do to achieve those goals.

Thank you to my family…specially to Andreas and Emma!  I spend so much time working, traveling and blogging, while also taking advantage of, when I can, time to do my “Me” things every now and then, such as going out with the girls or getting my nails done.  They definitely accept me as I am and put up with A LOT!!!

Friends

Its fabulous to have great friends that understand when you work too much and have to bow out of activities, but who can also support you in other ways.  And that list of “other ways”, for me, is extremely long.  But in essence, they are great to encourage, motivate, blow off steam with, share in the success, etc.

I have some fabulous friends to acknowledge:  Dana Koger, Livia Hernandez and Heather Hall.  They participate when I ask for a Call to Action, they understand when I have to travel for work and cannot be there for things (they still attempt to include me even when I have to say “no” more than “yes”) and they just always have words of encouragement!

A  big shout out to Janice Anderson because she is a great supporter of and finds value in my blogging! What a fabulous feeling.

 

Mentors

Most of us do not have them, but I think that Mentors are so very important.  You can have 1 or many depending on what you need a mentor for, where the strengths lie with the potential mentor and what value that they may be able to contribute.  The goal should be to meet with them regularly (could be weekly, monthly or whatever you define as regular) to help you set, reach and attain your goals by providing suggestions, opinion and holding you accountable.  I have different mentors for different areas for improvement so that I am not overwhelming each of them with so much. Because I need lots o help! Ha!

My two mentors for this year, Charles Minter and Susan Palmer, have been fabulous in my professional world.

I also have a few other people though that are just awesome and have a daily impact on me.  I won’t call them out here because they don’t engage with my blogging so they will probably never see this post.  But I would not enjoy my professional job/career (because I give a lot of time and it certainly has its ups and downs) without them!  

 

Life Coach

I don’t know anyone that has engaged with a Life Coach, other than myself.  Life Coaches can be such a value add because you talk with them honestly and freely.  They don’t know nor do they judge you.  Their job is to make sure that they are providing you their true, unbiased guidance.

For me, that coach is John Saddington.  My first session with him was great!  He listened, understood what I am trying to accomplish and has provided me activities and ideas to help me in this endeavor.  

 

Therapists or Counselors

As we all have issues and have many obstacles in our lives to overcome, therapists and the like can be a much needed level of support.  Very much like a Life Coach, they can listen and provide guidance, or at the very least, help you to see your options.

The difference between the two, life coach and therapist, is that a life coach is more about the broader picture, helping you achieve success from a life perspective, be it in your personal or professional world…or both.  A therapist will help you with your personal issues and emotions.

At this point in my life, I have not enlisted the help of therapist.  But its not to say that I have not in the past.

In the blogging world, its important to have great Partners, bloggers and those that help you, even monetarily to rely on.

Partners

My most supportive partner (and great friend) has been Alisa Murray.  She has wanted to see me succeed. That is evident with all that she does for me and allows me to do for her.

Bloggers

A big shout out to a member of my Tribe:  Michele Rosenbaum from OurRoseyLife.  We are going through the 31 Day Challenge together!  In fact, she is the one that introduced me to the opportunity as she participated last year.  Go and check hers out.  I think her posts are fun to read and she chose a great topic:  Click, Inspire, Smile.

My tribe has been awesome as well.  What is a tribe, you ask?  It is a group of bloggers that come together regularly to discuss ideas, support, promote and encourage one another.  They are a pretty fabulous group.  These are just a few that I interact with often!!

Check them out!

• Sondra from Sondra Lyn at Home – Home Design
• Marian from CM Shaw/Gathering Branches – Artist
• Michele from Our Rosey Life – LIfestyle
• Lynda from Oh So Shabby – DIY/Crafting
• Darla from Heart Work – Organizing and Home Design
• Kelley from Miss Information – Recipes and DIY/Crafting
• Rosemary from Not Just Paint and Paper – DIY/Crafting
• Emily at Two Purple Couches – Home Design and DIY
• Rachel at Lines Across – DIY

I have also had some great help from some individual bloggers such as Kelly from Miss Information (also part of my tribe above) and Lucy from Lucy’s Inspired!

Others:

Its Ok to pay others to do certain tasks to help alleviate some stress.  Its actually a good sign when you can recognize what you can and cannot do.

I could not do as much as I do blogging, with my career, family and volunteer work, without the people like MacKenzie Brooks and Tricia Flake!!!  They do even more than expected.  Thank you for all you do to help me!!! 

Having a support system is not a make or break, but it sure does make life easier and potentially help you succeed even more or at a faster pace.

My challenge to you is to make a list of your supporters.

• Who can you turn to?
• Who gives you their honest opinions?
• Who do you run to when you need help with something?

Once you have that list, make sure you thank them.  They should know the impact that they have on you! Have fun!

Previous 31 Days to Find My Way Posts:

• 31 Days to Find My Way (denisedesigned.com)
• Day 1:  The Challenge (denisedesigned.com)
• Day 2:  Its Ok to Ask for Help (denisedesigned.com)
• Day 3:  Honest Feedback (denisedesigned.com)