sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey a

With the many ups and downs in business, let alone life, it's hard to stay positive and keep the faith in the day-to-day pursuit of our dreams. And, when we associate with negative or unsupportive people, it becomes almost impossible.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to eliminate all of the negative people from your life because they may be those closest to you; a parent, spouse, sibling, best friend or business partner. Because these people have personal history with you, they usually remember your successes and failures - heavy on the failures. And, they may simply not be able to think of you in terms of what's possible.

That's why we all need to create a team of brand cheerleaders and an environment that provides us with love and encouragement.

To create the best possible support squad, try the following tips:

1. Build more relationships that nourish and restore you either with a coach, buddy, spiritual advisor, mentor, or role model. Spend time with people who will hold you to a higher standard and "stretch" yourself.

2. Pay less attention to relationships that make it easy for you to maintain the status quo. Some friends will always tell you what you want to hear and let you get away with performing sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey a

your life because they may be those closest to you; a parent, spouse, sibling, best friend or business partner. Because these people have personal history with you, they usually remember your successes and failures - heavy on the failures. And, they may simply not be able to think of you in terms of what's possible.

That's why we all need to create a team of brand cheerleaders and an environment that provides us with love and encouragement.

To create the best possible support squad, try the following tips:

1. Build more relationships that nourish and restore you either with a coach, buddy, spiritual advisor, mentor, or role model. Spend time with people who will hold you to a higher standard and "stretch" yourself.

2. Pay less attention to relationships that make it easy for you to maintain the status quo. Some friends will always tell you what you want to hear and let you get away with performing sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey a

.

That's why we all need to create a team of brand cheerleaders and an environment that provides us with love and encouragement.

To create the best possible support squad, try the following tips:

1. Build more relationships that nourish and restore you either with a coach, buddy, spiritual advisor, mentor, or role model. Spend time with people who will hold you to a higher standard and "stretch" yourself.

2. Pay less attention to relationships that make it easy for you to maintain the status quo. Some friends will always tell you what you want to hear and let you get away with performing sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey a

advisor, mentor, or role model. Spend time with people who will hold you to a higher standard and "stretch" yourself.

2. Pay less attention to relationships that make it easy for you to maintain the status quo. Some friends will always tell you what you want to hear and let you get away with performing sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey a

sub-par. Spend your time with friends, colleagues and associates who understand your goals and will help you grow.

3. Get rid of negative relationships - those focused on gossip, mutual complaining, or making excuses. Let's face it, that's as unproductive as it gets! They add nothing to your journey and are not a good investment of your time and energy.

4. Open yourself to meeting new people - on purpose. It's only scary if you make it scary. Look at it this way, the next encounter you make with someone new could mean new business, a referral partner or a new shopping buddy.

5. Put your sales skills to good use and get buy-in from your family. If you can help your family members see how your goal directly benefits them, you'll get more of their support. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you can explain that being healthier will mean you'll have more energy to be with your children and spouse or significant other.

6. Find a support buddy or group. Share your daily insights and draw strength from each other. This not only provides accountability and structure, but it makes the process more fun and enjoyable.

Mastermind Groups are a terrific way to get this kind of support. Mastermind members support one another with constructive ideas, feedback, a push when you need one and always with your best interest at heart.

© 2006 - Liz Pabon. All rights reserved.