‎No man is an island. Life is built on relationships. Not just any relationship but the right ones. A wise man once said, “he who has friends has money”. He illustrated with a story. He was like, if your best friend is the president, you definitely will not lack anything as you are in advantageous position. This goes to show that forming the right relationships is the way to go. It has been proven medically that those with healthy good relationships, live longer than those who don’t.

The success of great men are in their stories. Most successful people have 5 types of people in their lives that influence them. They include:

1. The Leader: This person stands as your mentor. She takes you to the edge where you feel comfortable. She knows what you are capable of and pushes you to achieve them and even do more. She is unafraid to take charge, grab you and get going. This kinds of people do not make you feel less perfect than you are.

2. The Storyteller: She does not bore you with stories rather, she uses her experiences to spur you to actions. She encourages you when you make mistakes and relates them to hers. She doesn’t condemn you for your flaws. She reminds you of how much more you can be.

3.The Listener: Having someone who listens to all your rants,feelings and fears is wonderful. This person makes us feel valued even when you are unsure if your words hold water or not. This is not the person who would talk over you.She does not hear you alone, she listens…..that is priceless.

4.The Happy one: This person has an aura of happiness around her. We could refer to such people as sunshine. They find something to be happy about in unpleasant situations. They vibrate positive energy and cling to it.

5. The one that forces you to think: It could be irksome reevaluating ourselves.Hence, we need the kind of people who would make us think. Self reflection is necessary for self improvement. Sitting with the right kind of person that would initiate conversations that bring questions about growth and development is definitely the way to go

Patricia Uyeh