People To Drop! As important as it may be to have feedback friends, cheerleaders, references, connections/contacts, and career investors it is also important to drop the haters.
Haters: What you are trying to do is not ordinary; in fact, it is extraordinary. Extraordinary people draw all sorts of haters. I learned years ago if you show me whom you are traveling with I can tell you where you are going.
In high school if I was getting in the car with Aaron or Chris, the destination was predetermined. I was headed towards self-doubt, ridicule, and destroyed self-esteem. Guys love to rip on each other, but these two always took it too far. They made sure I knew my place was beneath them. They were good at sports and getting girls, so I thought I was ‘cool’ by association.
As I grew older I realized these ‘friends’ always left me feeling bad. They built themselves up by tearing me down. Over the years I have dropped all negative people from my inner circle. This lesson is important for young career builders. Moving to D.C. to start a new career is exciting and terrifying so the last thing you need is people tearing you down. I will always remember my senior
year of college Chris proclaiming in front of several people “dude, you can’t get into American University. That is where Michelle Smith went to graduate school and she was valedictorian of her high school.” I did get into American University, but that was not what I needed to hear the day after I mailed my application.
Now is the time to weed out negative people. (For more insight check out this Levo article, When Your Ambition Doesn’t Line Up with Your Friends).
Having the Steadfast Spirit means to surround yourself with good people and distance yourself from those who refuse or are incapable of being a positive force in your life. Plus, by weeding out the haters you are making room for the new amazing people you are about to meet!
* Please join the D.C. Hopefuls Newsletter!
* Like us on Facebook at D.C. Hopefuls Facebook Page
* Follow us on twitter at @dchopefuls
* CLICK HERE to schedule a 30-minute conversation with me about your career aspirations, struggles, and/or questions