The signature on my email currently includes the Albert Einstein quote “Nothing great was ever done alone.” And if you think about some of the people who have done great things – Neil Armstrong, Mother Theresa, Sir Edmund Hilary, even Bill Gates and Richard Branson – you”ll realise just how true this is. They all had a team to encourage and support them towards their goals. Even Sir Francis Chichester had a bevy of experts to help him before he set off to achieve his epic solo journey around the world. We sometimes make the mistake of thinking of our goals as solo acts: something we alone are able to plan for and achieve. But in truth, few, if any, goals can be achieved without input from other people.
So who is on your team?
Do you have the professional and personal resources to endorse your strengths and support your weaknesses? I was reminded of this important aspect of goal planning by Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, who was in Sydney earlier this year for his Financial Intelligence seminar. Robert is a financial genius and an entrepreneur — a champion in his field. And like most champions, be they athletic, financial, entrepreneurial or creative, he does not try to do everything himself. Robert surrounds himself with people who can coach him or give expert advice and ongoing support to his mind, body and soul. On Robert”s team are his attorney, his accountant, his PR person, his event organisers, his publishers, his chiropractor, his therapist, his tailor, his wife and business partner, Kim, and so on. He makes sure those on his team share his values and paradigms. Robert genuinely wants their input and will seek out and listen to those who have more expertise in a particular field than he has.
Time to repeat the question. Who is on your team?
The first step in building a team is to list the resources you need to achieve a particular goal and support your wellbeing. Then check that you either have the ability (and the time) to do a particular task yourself or have the people on your team to provide those resources. And while you”re at it, check that that those already on your team are the people you actually need and want to work with and are attracted to your values and standards. Going it alone may sound romantic and courageous but it”s the hard way. Building a like-minded resource team will get you there faster and easier.
