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Each year millions make resolutions; and every year millions fail at their resolutions because they haven’t learned that accountability is one of the most underutilized keys to success. The difference between the present version of YOU and the potential version of YOU, may single handedly be measured by the people you surround yourself with. The more you hope to attain and accomplish in life, the more you will need the help of others – especially people that are smarter or more experienced than you in any given area of life or business.

This month Ask Oprah’s All Stars premiered on the media mogul’s OWN network, allowing everyday people to ask questions of Dr. Oz, Suze Orman and Dr. Phil about relationships, health, body and finances. You don’t have to be Oprah, however, to surround yourself with a team of the best consultants, coaches and confidants you can find.

Oprah calls them her All Stars, but I refer to them as my Mastermind Group, a name I adopted after reading Coach Yourself to Success by Talane Miedaner. A Mastermind Group is defined by Talane as a “special group of people with different talents and backgrounds (that) will help you brainstorm on ideas and provide suggestions on how you can reach your goals.” These people are your support system, sounding board and even devil’s advocates when necessary. They help you stay clear of the costly mistakes you would more than likely make if left up to your own “bright ideas.”

Here are a few tips to use as you set out to create your own team of All Stars and create your best life yet!

1. Start with people you know. Think of people you already know across different backgrounds and industries. Make sure the basics like – a lawyer, an accountant, a computer whiz, an artist or designer, etc.- are included, but also think outside the box and make the list unique to your industry. If your goal is to be a chef, surround yourself with a nutritionist or a restauranteer so that you can bounce new dishes off of them or even a publisher who can give you behind the scenes insight on what it takes to produce your own cookbook.

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