What qualities do you look for when building a support systems?

[Kaira Sturdivant Rouda]

I always think its best to begin by thinking about your heroes. Write down the names of two or three people, past or present, that you admire. Then, list the characteristics that you admire in those people. Are there any commonalities between them? If so, these are the qualities to look for when building your support system.

Feature entrepreneur, Lisa Cini, president/owner of Mosaic Design Studio, looks for qualities including…
Happiness
Honesty
Passion
Hardworking
Problem-Solver

What qualities do you look for ??

[Angela Smith]

When I look at who my heroes are, I think of my grandmother and my mother-in-law. My grandmother was the driving source of my childhood. She was a great cook, sewed all of my clothing, coats, undergarments and taught me the christian way of life. My grandmother was a strong women and had great faith. If someone called the house and was having problems, she would stop everything she was doing and pray with them or she would call the family together and we would have prayer meeting in the living room for what ever the situation was.

My mother-in-law is an expat in West Africa. Originally from El Paso, TX she made her way through college with 5 children. She was determined to give her kids a good life. She is a very stong woman who counsels AIDS patients and is teaching school in Togo. I admire her drive, her determination, and her never give up attitude. She is very wise and has great wisdom and compassion.

Both women have integrity, are strong and passionate, stand firm in their beliefs and are wise in their decisions. I think these are some of the qualities that I look for when building my support system.

[Kaira Sturdivant Rouda]

Angela, it sounds like you have some pretty strong female heroes. Determination, integrity, strength and passion are excellent qualities to look for in a support system. Your grandmother, mother-in-law and yourself sound like very powerful and inspiring women. Thanks for sharing!