The Power of the Other: The startling effect other people have on you, from the boardroom to the bedroom and beyond-and what to do about it

by Henry Cloud

An absolutely critical role that others play in helping us achieve our goals is to help us create a realistic plan for getting there. As you think about the others in your life, ask yourself these questions: Do they help me set small, achievable goals that are aligned with the big ones I desire? Do they help me monitor progress in ways that are helpful and specific? Do they value the small steps I’m taking, or do they only praise “home runs”? Do they celebrate small wins? Are they or have they been on a get-better path that was incremental and step-by-step to a very large goal? Do they understand that process? Do they compare me to the ideal examples only? Do they help me identify multiple options for achieving my goals, or is it their way or the highway?