Surround yourself with people who are willing to lift as they climb

You know these people. They are taking night classes, music lessons, or starting a business on the side while giving 100 percent to their full-time job. They are a professional athlete who does more reps right after the game or meet. The type of person who is always working to improve themselves or others for the future, while still giving everything they have to the present.

I’ve been fortunate to work and compete alongside people like this, and I’m better for it and grateful for it. There is one coworker in particular who inspired this lesson. I met him at my first job in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon one of our first encounters he asked me, “What is your side hustle?” He then went on to share that he believed everyone should have a passion they are working on that they enjoy outside of work. This particular person had more than one; he was writing a book and hosting a podcast, on top of working his full-time job at our company, a national nonprofit. He was doing a lot of heavy lifting. But he also inspired me with the time he took not only to improve his skills and prepare for alternate futures, but to motivate others to do the same along the way. In some way he was not only climbing and lifting his own weight, but giving others a lift too.

You want to work, live, and surround yourself with people who have this kind of drive and care for others. It’s contagious.