The 7 Types Of People Every Entrepreneur Needs In Their Inner Circle -- And How To Find Them Learn how to find and curate your inner circle of a better life and business.
By Jessie Medina Edited by Jessica Thomas
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You've most likely heard sayings like the Jim Rohn quote, "You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Those in our inner circle play an important role and can influence our well-being and growth.
Attracting the right people requires you to be whom you want to attract. When entrepreneurs tell me they are not finding their people, my first question is, "Are you the person that your desired circle would be attracted to?"
Your inner circle is not limited to one group of people. Think of business and the different stakeholders that partake in it. You too will have multiple stakeholder groups. For this article, we are focusing on curating your inner circle to best serve you.
A personal board of advisors
Think of this group as the people who play the same role as a board of advisors for a business, but for you. These are mentors who are more experienced than you in the areas where you want to grow. Mentors are not to be confused with paid professionals like coaches, although at times there may be an overlap.
Create a list of the different advisors you'd like on your board. Make sure to start with the ones who would complement your skills and expertise. Avoid finding people just like you. They can have shared values, but look for different strengths and experiences.
Aspirational models
These are people who are modeling the life you aspire to. Your lives don't have to be identical, but they should be similar. For example, your aspirational model could be a mom who's a traveling entrepreneur, or a tech executive who started a nonprofit and grew up in a similar culture. You don't want to copy their life, but aspirational models help remind you that anything is possible.
Some people will immediately choose people like Oprah, but I recommend picking someone whose journey is a bit more similar to yours. Think of an up-and-coming social media personality or a new author. It's better to pick someone who's 100 steps in front of you than 1,000.
Close friends
Yes, your inner circle should include friends you don't talk business with. Sure, maybe they'll ask you how business is going and come to your business anniversary party, but you don't sit there talking about it. It's so refreshing to sit in a hot tub with my friends with a glass of wine and almost forget I run a business because it just doesn't come up. In fact, none of the conversations turn into business talk.
Business besties
I call the women in my mastermind community my business besties. It's intentional: We aren't just business partners, and we aren't just friends. We are a hybrid of the best of both worlds. We can talk about business, money and strategy but also occasionally open up about personal matters.
Related: How to Reconnect With Those Outside Our Inner Circle
Influence-sphere
This is your extended network. You don't call them up on their cellphones, but they'll email you to let you know about a speaking engagement opportunity or will bring up your business in a meeting. These can be people in your local community or even on social media who you think of when someone asks for an expert in their field and who will recommend you for that press opportunity.
Your community
I call the people in my community "dreamers." This is what we think of as our "ideal customer" or what some influencers think of as their fans. But they aren't just followers or customers. They're the people you want following your business, buying from your brand and reading your book, but you'd hit it off as friends too.
Related: Building a Relationship With a CEO? Woo the Inner Circle First.
The investment crew
These are people you pay to help you or your business get to the next level. Think of the therapist who's helping you heal childhood trauma or that business coach who's going to help you hit six figures. I call them the investment crew because — once you find the right ones — there is always a return on investment, and the benefits go beyond money.
So, how do you find the people for these groups?
My inner circle is amazing. They get me, and I get them. This is who they are. This is also who I am. It's not manufactured, it's organic. It's a symbiotic relationship. What I create speaks to their soul, and they are also the kind of people who move me. Embody who you truly are and what your business is all about, and you'll understand exactly who's right for you. Stay away from people who put you down and hold you back.
Start by making a list of the specific characteristics you want the people in each stakeholder group to have. The characteristics should span topics including financial, personal, emotional, vibrational, etc. Once you get specific and begin to embody what you're looking for in others, your people will trickle in. Have fun elevating your circle of influence!
Related: How to Know Which Investors to Let Into Your Inner Circle
