LaRon Carter 's Asphalt Check

Are you surrounded with people just like you or do they compliment by connecting the dots and filling in the blanks?

The lesson I learned this week [LiLTweeks] was spotlighted by The Money Smart Guy Matthew Sapaula on his archived Blogtalkradio Show Making God First Monday | How to pick the right partners and avoid the wrong ones. Matthew Sapaula is one of those men of God I met through clicking on a Re-Tweeted Twitter link to his Chicago based blog, which was quickly added to my Google Reader and then connected on Facebook one year ago.

Three weeks into the New Year I find myself reviewing 2010 goals, celebrating my birthday this week, thinking through my journey from here, and seeking God’s wisdom for the people that will help me along the way. Even as I write this article, it becomes clear that many in my PLN (Personal Learning Network) have been God sent to assist in learning more about myself.

So I’m finally getting around to running one of my catch-up mini Blogtalkradio marathons of new podcast when Sapaula, with his Making God First Monday fellow host John Heerhold, discusses the ins and outs of how to create success with the help of mentors, coaches, and partners when I realized it was time for a reality check. We need an elite team of strategic partners that will help connect the dots and fill deficiencies with wise mortar for this next decade. For me, it’s going to be key to overcoming my own challenges from 2009 and beyond. The Money Smart Guy is quickly becoming one of my strategic partners.

Asking, “What is a strategic partner?” It’s a loaded question. Some key characteristics:

Is a partner that matters directly or indirectly.
Has expertise in the area you need.
Has a track record of success.
Shares your core values, beliefs, and actions.
Will correct you with dignity, but the reality of it maybe uncomfortable.

Some flexible benefits may be:

Can provide intellectual, emotional, or physical assistance to help you win.
Can be local or on the other side of the world.
Can have a high profile or be very important to you and a few others.
Can connect with and meet through social media or Meetup.
Communicate through videoconference, blogs, and smart phone applications.

Use your social media to connect with at least two new people every day that share your interest. Closely follow their content for a few days up front, subscribe to their newsletters and blogs, and monitor the result of hanging around them. Who knows, the connection may turn into a righteous partnership?

How to Contact Money Smart Radio or Matthew Sapaula
Financial Strategist / Speaker / Chicago Talk Radio Show Host / TV commentator

Stay focused. Stay confident. Be wise and keep partnering,
Carter | @laroncarter

LiLTweeks (Lessons I Learned This Week) is a weekly observation of some problems I’ve encountered and possible actions for resolve. If you have been inspired from this article please leave a comment and consider subscribing to the RSS (top right column) to have future post delivered to your feed reader [look for Weekend Post].