Having a strong support system at home is crucial to being successful. It hasn’t always been easy to be a working mom, but I am fortunate to have my husband with me at work as well as at home. My parents also instilled a strong work ethic and an unwavering desire to be true to myself. This has enabled me to stay true to my vision and my brand for the past 30 years.
—Temple St. Clair, founder, Temple St. Clair
I have people who keep me accountable. I have people who keep me from staying satisfied. I have people who help me define what success looks like. All of those kinds of people are important, and they have all contributed to my journey in some way.
—Derek J. Sine, managing director, Vander Group
My family and friends have always believed in me, and that has boosted my confidence, especially when times were rough. My father introduced me to the power of belief and using my thoughts to attract amazing things into my life by visualizing everything I want. My parents never allowed me to give up or question myself, and always motivate me to work harder in making a difference to the world.
—Sama Jashnani, co-founder, CEO, DownToDash
There are certain people who have been key factors in getting me to where I am, and they have done so by constantly challenging me. They are the force that supports my thoughts and ideas but also the counterbalance that provides constructive criticism when they think it’s of value. Most importantly, they make me confront the root cause of any fears, concerns or hesitations I might have so that I can move past them.
—Mera Baker, corporate counsel, Patch of Land
It all starts with who you find to share your life with and who you let in. At work, you want people who are driven, competent, honest and who share similar goals to yours. You don’t want to have to micromanage people. More broadly, the most important people help you see your problems in a new way. They make you more practical. Sometimes they make you more imaginative. They probably know how to laugh with you. They remind you to act like your best self. They help you stop thinking crazy, which is what usually happens when you gnaw on a problem by yourself for too long.
—Chris Nicholson, CEO, Skymind
It has been said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. I have been fortunate to have very supportive people in my life. Having friends and family around you whom you look up to, and who are at the top of their careers is a huge motivator.
—Heather Ripley, CEO, Ripley PR
Related: Say This, Not That: 9 Tips for Being a Supportive Friend
This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
