Postcard of CornellUniversityCheerleader1906 Cheerleading (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6 – 1

Great blog post in Forbes on the 6 People you need in your corner to accomplish your goals. Jessica Hagy said they were: The Instigater, the Cheerleader, the Taskmasker, the Connector and the Example and the Doubter.

Of course, we want someone who pushes us to start a project (the Instigator), the Cheerleader to cheer us on, the Taskmasker so that we don’t flag from our work, the Connector to serve as matchmaker and Introducer and the Example. Nothing beats knowing someone who doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the talk – who is a personal example of all that is strong, good and honest.

I have my doubts about the Doubter, however. Hagy argues that’s the person who plays devil’s advocate and asks the hard questions. I would call that person the realist–the one who asks why you keep agreeing to drive your kid to school after he keeps missing the bus.

I want to be around someone who asks forthright questions, who pulls the curtain over my eyes when I slip into denial, and who pushes me forward even when I doubt myself. That’s what I want! Someone to help me doubt my own doubts about myself and my capabilities. So, the five people you definitely need are the: The Instigater, the Cheerleader, the Taskmasker, the Connector and the Example. And the Anti-Doubter, the one who tells you not to listen to that doubting voice inside yourself.

If you want to change your life, change the people in your corner. Add new ones! Stay away from the ones who are pulling you down and find ones who push you on.

For your best chapter, which person is the most important to you? Take a vote!