As a former entertainment industry executive who’s worked at Sony, Universal and Turner Broadcasting, I used to attend management retreats at ritzy resorts in Laguna Beach or Palm Springs.  For most companies (with the notable exception of AIG) those days are long gone.  No more poolside luaus so you can bond with your colleagues.  No more golf weekends to reward your sales team.  Even the Hollywood studios have cut back on their big red-carpet premieres.

But just because you’re cutting budgets to the bone doesn’t mean it’s time to stop your networking activities.  In fact, in these recessionary times you need as many people on your side as possible. I’m not talking about the rubber chicken luncheon circuit, although that’s certainly got its place.  No, I want you to you recruit your own customized “Support Squad,” a dream team of handpicked supporters, to help you succeed.  And not just financially but also physically, emotionally and spiritually.

When I left the relative safety of the corporate world (in mid-life, mind you) to publish my first book and launch my coaching and consulting firm, I knew my Support Squad would help see me through.  There was just one problem.  I didn’t have a Support Squad. 

Not to be deterred by this small detail, I decided to enlist a team to help me jumpstart my business and adjust to single life (did I mention I was also newly divorced?).   I started by asking my former Sony boss if he would serve as my business mentor.  He immediately said yes, and only later confessed that he’d had no clue what I needed, but hoped I did.  Emboldened by my first successful recruit, I added a financial advisor, a marketing guru, a physical trainer, a landscape gardener, even a great group of girlfriends who shared my passion for theater and travel. 

Some, like the financial advisor and the marketing guru, were paid professionals.  Others, like the trainer, gardening pal and the girlfriends, offered their support simply out of the goodness of their hearts.  It wasn’t always clear exactly what role each person would play, but as long as they were enthusiastic, or at least willing, to help me change my life, I knew we’d figure it out as we went along.  And we did. 

What kind of support do you need to see you through financial nightmares, career challenges or even the daily dilemmas of life?  Whether you want assistance with work, finances, kids, fitness, or all of the above, recruiting your Support Squad isn’t as difficult as you might think.  Start by making a list of friends, colleagues, or relatives who might be willing to help you meet your goals. And if you don’t know what your goals are, clarifying them can be your team’s first endeavor.  Pick the least intimidating person on your list for your first recruiting conversation, working up to the more challenging ones as your confidence grows.  Follow these simple steps to solicit support and build your squad:

1.     State your goal.  It could be, “I need financial help to avoid foreclosure on my house,” or “I want to start my own business.” 

2.     Make your request.  You might say,  “I want to hire you as my business coach” or “I’d like your help with re-financing my mortgage.’

3.      Negotiate next steps.  Whether it’s a paid professional or a friend, determine exactly what form their support will take with regard to timing, location, length of commitment and payment, if any. 

4.     Evaluate on an ongoing basis.  If your goals are clear and measurable, you’ll be able to determine if your team has helped you reach them.  Add new members as the need or opportunity arises.

5.     Be sure to give back.  Volunteer to be a part of someone else’s Support Squad or to return the support in any way you can.

And don’t forget that, in tough economic times or anytime, bartering services, goods or even babysitting can be a beautiful thing!

Libby Gill is a brand strategist, business coach and bestselling author. She has appeared on the Today Show, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, CNN, NPR, Oprah & Friends Radio Network, and in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, O Magazine and many more.

You can learn more about Libby’s Success Library and FIRE UP YOUR BRAND tele-courses at http://libbygill4you.com/Success_Products.html. For inquiries about Libby’s corporate and association presentations, please visit https://libbygill.com.