Creating something can be a lonely position. You will and do need someone to talk to who understands the issues you are facing and who supports you – emotionally and intelligently – in the situation you are facing. 

It is imperative that you build – yes build – a circle of true believers. You, yourself, are – or should be – the biggest believer in yourself and the work you are doing or setting out to do. NEVER let anybody tell you “You can’t do it.” Have faith in yourself. Do not allow Negative Nellies to hang around and bring you down. 

Even though you may have written only one book and have not considered yourself to be a ‘businessperson’, you are. Therefore, it is imperative that you work and run your business, no matter how large or small, efficiently and effectively. To do this you need to reach out and build a circle of true believers who have built a business of their own, even if it is only one or two others. You need them to turn to when the going gets rough – and it will. They will help you walk through those rough times, see the issues and be able to offer practical advice on dealing with them. Consider who your circle of believers are and make sure they are the best team for you and your business. 

These may not be people you are hiring. They may be family, friends and other businesspeople who really do know and understand what it is that you are doing and who are willing to stand with you. Do not be fooled. It is easy to tell yourself they believe in you and they have your best interest at heart but check them out. If you are getting negative, down-pulling advice from them, they are not whom you want in your circle of supporters. 

Sometimes your strongest supporters may be the people whom you hire. If they are for you, it will show in their support and determination to stand with you. Don’t make the mistake of hiring a black sheep that pits others against you. They will have a negative impact on your business – literally – and the outreach you have to your clientele, no matter whether they are readers or customers. 

You must believe passionately, solidly, and eternally in yourself and your vision. This is not arrogance. This is your calling, if you will, and certainly is your future. Trust in yourself and walk in wisdom. 

You might ask how you can know if your circle of supporters are true believers or are they really wolves in sheep’s clothing? Watch and listen and act fast to what is going on around you. If you have someone in your circle or employment that is always fighting and creating drama, whether it’s at work or home, this is a big red flag as they will eventually bring that drama into the workplace. If you have someone that is always angry and bad-talking others, they will not honor the boundaries set out by you or your company. They are angry, walled-up souls. They need prayer but they do not need to be around you. If they are always in a fight mode you need to pass on.