To create the life you really want can be hard work AND it's 
totally worth it. Why is it so many of us think we have to do it 
ALL by ourselves! If this sounds like you, stop right now! To 
create and live the life you really want is much easier if you 
surround yourself with the five people below -- huggers, 
straight-shooters, mentors, success teams and experts. Soon, 
you'll wonder why you ever tried to go it alone!

Huggers
Straight-shooters
Mentors
Success Teams
Experts

Huggers:

Someone who is there for you with open arms, no matter what.

We all need "huggers" in our life -- a few special individuals 
who will be there for us when the chips are down and we feel like 
we can't go on. Huggers are the people in our life that will be 
there for us with open arms and a shoulder to lean on while 
providing words of encouragement when we most need it. They love 
us unconditionally, without judgment or strings attached.

Huggers are wise and embody love, compassion and acceptance. For 
some of us this may be family members and for others of us it may 
be friends, a spouse or partner. It doesn't matter who your 
hugger is as long as you have one in your life!

My huggers include:
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Straight-shooters:

Someone who will look you in the eye and tell you the truth.

Sometimes we need a little shake-up to help us get back on track, 
to see the light or to take a hard look at - whatever! We need 
straight-shooters! Straight-shooters are people who care for us, 
want the best for us AND are willing and able to provide us an 
objective eye. They don't sugar coat. Honesty is their best 
policy and they know to do anything else would be to sell us 
short.

A straight-shooter will sit you down, look you in the eye and 
challenge the things you say and do, or the things you don't say 
and don't do, all for the sake of waking you up. They see things 
about us we can't, or won't, see about ourselves. Not everyone 
has the ability to be an effective straight-shooter but those 
that can are priceless.

Straight-shooters come in the form of coaches, mentors, 
therapists AND best friends.

My straight-shooters are:
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Mentors:

Someone who's been there, done that!

A mentor's been where you want to go and they're willing to share 
their hard-earned wisdom and expertise. A mentor will save you 
time and money, shorten your learning curve and build your 
character. They stand before you on the path you're choosing with 
an enthusiastic, wise and confident spirit. They are the light 
posts on an otherwise darkened road, illuminating your passage.

Mentors are generous with their time and knowledge and all they 
ask for in return is that we do our best. Mentors like to see 
their mentees achieve success. Often times a mentor will choose 
us. Other times we must choose our mentors. Who in your community 
or business do you admire? Ask them if they'd be willing to 
mentor you over a period of time.

When you're lucky enough to keep the company of a mentor 
consistently "show up"; put all other things aside and give your 
mentor your full attention. Come prepared with questions and 
observations.

I would like the following individual(s) to mentor me:
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Success Teams:

You can't do it all alone so don't even try!

Details. Putting the pieces together. Getting things done. Fresh 
perspectives. Pats on the back. Accountability. These are just 
some of the things a Success Team can do for you.

A Success Team is a group of 3-6 people that meet on a regular 
basis to support each other, provide feedback, brainstorm new 
ideas and celebrate each member's successes.

Creating a Success Team is a great way to reach your goals. Your 
team will be there for you again and again. Whether you're trying 
to lose weight, build a business or plan a European adventure, 
trying to do so alone can be taxing. Surrounding yourself with a 
group of people that care about you and your success will provide 
the support and encouragement you need to reach your goals.

The people I'd like on my success team include:
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Experts:

When a jack-of-all-trades won't cut it -- call in the Experts.

It's impossible to be great at everything. In fact, most of us 
have a finite number of talents and passions. Trying to be a 
jack-of-all-trades can keep us from doing what we want to do and 
do well naturally. For those things we can't do or don't know how 
to do -- get the help and/or advice of an expert.

There are experts for everything. Need accounting advice -- hire 
a professional accountant. Dislike administrative work -- hire a 
personal assistant. Want to create a website, consider hiring a 
professional designer rather then taking a do-it-yourself 
approach. Often times enlisting the help of an expert will save 
you time and money. An expert's gift is an experienced eye and 
deepened perspective.

Sometimes it may be necessary to have a personal relationship 
with the experts in your life. Other times it may be possible to 
elicit an expert's opinion through books they've written, courses 
they teach, or articles they've posted on their website. Bottom-
line -- we can't do it ALL. When you find yourself outside your 
element -- call an expert.

Experts I need:
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Cari Vollmer is the creative founder of LifeOnTrack.com.  
LifeOnTrack.com's inspirational e-zine, LivingOnTrack, offers 
practical success tools, tips and strategies for getting and 
keeping your life on track.  Sign up at 
http://www.LifeOnTrack.com .