Day 14: 17.9 miles/1:09
“You cannot hear a man’s advice unless you trust his word.” ~ Brandon Cooke
When Brandon shared this quote with me, I was overjoyed. He thought it up in the middle of a conversation the two of us were having with a trusted friend of mine. The clarity with which he was engaged in the conversation and the point at which he grabbed a pen and wrote it down were breakthrough moments for me. I had a little celebratory experience. This is the first time in a long time, certainly in the last two years, that Brandon engaged and participated in an intellectual discussion at every conversational level. Nice!
Earlier I talked about the importance of being surrounded with the right influences. The people and the voices that we listen to are a key to staying on course and learning how to keep moving forward. Brandon’s thoughts take this to a different level. Actually, Brandon’s quote drives us on two fronts: trusting those around us and being a trusted resource ourselves.
Besides surrounding yourself with positive, experienced, and supportive people, you need to be comfortable that you trust those around you. The recruiting process for an influential group starts with engaging people I really know and trust and find very valuable. These are people I want to have in my circle. When you are passionately working on your mission, commitment and goal, you are responsible for the people you surround yourself with. Everyone you surround yourself with must be a positive and productive resource for you as you embark on your journey. Anything and anyone that takes energy away from or is a distraction to your defined outcome is to be avoided. Fulfilling or accomplishing your commitment is dependent upon you taking positive and focused steps every day. Allowing people that you cannot trust or do not believe in, even those with the best of intentions, are not in a position to contribute to your success.
Remember the world is watching you on your journey. Surround yourself with people you trust to keep you on your path. Their positive, supportive, and influential voices are the ones you need to hear on a regular basis. Remember to engage and connect and share with those that can learn from you along the way. The real joy and accomplishment of your journey is closely linked to your ability and willingness to share your experiences, your commitment, and your challenges along the way.
