“Surround yourself with people who truly have your back and have your best interest at heart.”
The Invest in U Team
Editor’s note: A First Generation Professional (FGP) is the “first” in their immediate family to earn a 4-year college degree and/or obtain a higher level professional position than what was held by either parent.
The holiday season is fully underway and this time of year emphasizes connection and community, which is a perfect time to talk about the fourth key skill of the MorenoMethod, which is building community.
What does it mean to build a community and why is it important? For First Generation Professionals the community you belong to can have an even greater impact on your life than the influence of your family alone. And that’s because in some cases, First Gen Professionals may not be exposed to as wide a variety of life paths and career choices as they would like. By purposefully expanding their network and community, they increase their chances of interacting with people who can be a source of personal and professional inspiration and help advance their careers.
I teach a Design Your Life course and students are encouraged to develop a community where they can receive guidance and support to help them navigate and plan out potential careers they may want to explore.
There are different types of communities. One group could consist of your friends, another your coworkers. Still another community could be comprised of members of organizations that you belong to. And your neighbors could also be a part of your community.
I recommend cultivating and creating a supportive network of people who truly have your back and have your best interest at heart. I encourage you to expand upon your community to help you grow professionally and personally.
These are the 5 types of people you should have in your life:
People who inspire you.
People who mentor you.
People who challenge you.
People who nurture you.
People who you can inspire in return.
Take a look at who you have in your life at this moment and see who fits in these roles. And if you find you have some roles you need to add to your own support system, make a conscious effort to seek them out.
If you would like help on how to cultivate your community, schedule a coaching appointment with me!
Be well,
