Shari A. Roberts, MBA

The company you keep. As cliché as this topic is, most do not take action with surrounding themselves with leaders.

You have the power to accept and release company based on their value and what they can add.

Accept company that isn’t weak. These people are strong minded. These people are fighters. These people do not back down from a challenge. These people do not give up. These people are dedicated believers. These people are resolvers. These people are big hearted. These people are brutally honest and offer constructive criticism. These people are soldiers. These people know their value and accept nothing less. These people are leaders.

Accept company that isn’t needy but is giving. These people do not need anything from you. These people give. These people give you love. These people give you tough love. These people give you time. These people give you honesty. These people give you loyalty. These people give you respect. These people give you clarity. These people give you motivation. These people give you space. These people give you reassurance. These people give you support. These people give you reasons to smile. These people give you their shoulder to lean on. These people give you their all.

Accept company that is confident. These people are confident in their character. These people are confident with themselves. These people are confident in what they have to offer. These people are confident in their decisions. These people are confident in their beliefs. These people are confident in their career path. These people are confident in God.

Accept company that are true to themselves. These people are true to their feelings. These people remain true to their heart. These people are true to their word. These people are true to their actions. These people are true to you.

Accept company that are builders. These people build trust. These people build loyalty. These people are building their life. These people are building their career. These people are building themselves everyday and learning everyday.

Accept company that has a plan. These people have a plan with their life. These people have a plan with their career. These people have a plan with their spouse/significant other. These people have a PLAN.

Accept company that adds to your happiness. These people should not make you happy because you should be able to be genuinely happy without them, but rather they add to your already established happiness. These people add a little more joy to your day. These people add a little golden touch to your life.

Accept company that will tell you no. These people do not condone bullshit. These people will call you out on your bullshit. These people will let you know when you are in the wrong. These people will prevent you from making a huge mistake. These people will not try to justify your every action and back up your wrongs. These people are not ‘yes men.’ These people are your ‘reality check.’

Accept company that forgives. These people do not hold grudges. These people set themselves free from negative energy. These people release the negative spirits. These people replace the hurt in their heart with forgiveness. These people replace the madness in their heart with forgiveness. These people replace the emptiness in their heart with forgiveness. These people know how to forgive themselves.

Accept company that are risk takers. These people are intense believers. These people zoom in on the positive outcome(s) and GO FOR IT. These people are not influenced by others negative opinions and perceptions. These people do what they feel is best for them. These people set goals AND follows up with taking action. These people see the good possibilities before the bad; they see opportunity and a possibility and run with it. These people go for what they believe in regardless of outside commentators. These people see a target, aim and LAUNCH. These people are unstoppable and fearless. These people are brave. These people put their time on the line. These people put their energy on the line. These people put their heart on the line.

Lastly, accept company that is patient. This is very crucial. These people are patient with processes. These people are patient with understanding. These people are patient with listening. These people are patient during your low points. These people are patient with building. These people are patient with loving. These people are patient with your space. These people are patient with your sadness. These people are patient with your madness. These people are patient with coming to a resolution. These people are patient with life goals. These people are patient with their career goals. These people are patient and warm hearted. These people are patient with themselves.

The company you keep has a strong factor in where you will end up in life. They are a reflection of you in some way. Guilty by association: If they don’t believe in their capabilities, you may not believe in your capabilities – If they’re not respectful, you may not be respectful – If they make plans and give up time after time, you may make plans and give up time after time – If they are compulsive liars, you may be a compulsive liar – If they are afraid of a challenge, you may be afraid of a challenge – If they don’t know how to handle situations effectively, you may not know how to handle situations effectively – If they are not true to themselves and their feelings, you may not be true to yourself and your feelings – If they break promise after promise, you may break promise after promise – If they are foolish, you may be foolish. – If they are lazy, you may be lazy – If they are inconsiderate, you may be inconsiderate – If they aren’t risk takers, you may not be a risk taker – If they aren’t forgiving, you may not be forgiving – If they aren’t patient, you may not be patient – If they are hot headed, you may be hot headed – If they aren’t confident, you may not be confident. Misery loves company. Misery loves feeling comfortable.

But if they are valuable, you may be valuable – If they are builders, you may be a builder – If they are risk takers, you may be a risk taker. – If they are confident, you may be confident. – If they are true to themselves, their feelings and their word, you may be true to yourself, your feelings and your word. – If they are patient, you may be patient. – If they are forgiving, you may be forgiving. – If they are planners, you may be a planner. – If they are understanding, you may be understanding. – If they are respectful, you may be respectful. – If they are bosses, you may be a boss!

You need to surround yourself with leaders. These people add power to your energy and spirit. These people care for you and only want the best for you. These people believe in you. These people want to help you. These people want to see you flourish. These people want you to be yourself. These people want you to dive into your passions and your gifts. These people want you to have space to grow and glow. These people want you to love yourself and your life. These people want to enlighten you. These people want to give you the hard truths in life. These people want to plan and execute. These people want to rise, and want to see you rise right beside them. These people support and praise your personal development. These people are the key company to keep.

But most importantly, you must learn to accept/be comfortable with your own company.

Understand who to accept and who to release today.