One of the most helpful things that I’ve found in life is that I need personal trainers. Maybe not in the conventional sense but the principle is sound. I need people who can run circles around me in every area of my life. I need someone who is a rock star in finances. I need a friend who is a stud in leadership. I need a mentor who is killing it as a husband and father. I need someone who is smarter/better than me in every area.

As a competitive person, this can be a challenge. I don’t like to lose. There…I said it (-; Having people like this in my life is a discipline. I prefer to have people around me that I run circles around because it helps me to feel better about myself. That being said, I grow the most by having people around me that can absolutely smoke me in different areas. I definitely want to have people in my life that I pour into and I want to have peers that are running alongside me. There is no question however, that the most valuable people in my life are the people who are running faster than me in different areas.

When it comes to finances, Abbi and I love to sit down with Rich Young who is a part of our church. Rich is absolutely amazing at financial management and really helps Abbi and I think at a different level. When it comes to spirituality, my buddy Brad Brandon pushes me to a whole notha level when it comes to my commitment to Christ. In the area of leadership my boss Adam Martin really challenges me to go to the next level. Another personal trainer when it comes to leadership is my friend Shawn McCarthy. When it comes to relationships, my friend Josh Walters who is also a pastor at Seacoast, helps me to go to the next level. My mentor Jerry McSwain has been a spiritual guide for me for a long time and challenges me to grow in every area of my life.

The list could go on and on but I have people in my life that run circles around me and if you’re reading this and that’s you….thank you!!! Who are you close to who runs circles around you? Do you have someone who runs circles around you in every area of your life? If not, what are your next steps?