Happy Tuesday! As much as we speak about gender parity in the workplace, breaking the glass ceiling or leaning in (or out for that matter), one of the topics that is not as much discussed is actually giving professional women the means, room and time to achieve success at work.

As outlined in Jack Canfield’s famous “Success Principles” (one of my all-time favorites), in order to free up sufficient time and resources to pursue our goals and dreams, we need what he calls a “core group”. Your “core group” is basically your support group, and is made of all those people who make it possible for you to do what it is that you do. Whether it’s a devoted baby-sitter, a supportive husband, helpful friends and family, or if you can afford it, a housekeeper, an assistant or personal chef, the individuals in your “core group” directly or indirectly help create more time and resources for you to advance at work, build your own business or finish your education.

Whatever your career goals and aspirations, wherever your current professional station, it is crucial, as a corporate sister and a minority at work, to consider those internal resources. While we often struggle with “doing it all” as we demand a better work-life balance, and being Superwoman when we can barely make it through the day without a sense of sheer exhaustion, we at times fail to look within our own circle and assess if we have what we need to get where we want to be.

While many of us may not exactly be able to afford a personal chef or hire a personal assistant, the reality is most of us just won’t relinquish control and simply admit that we need help. Instead, we allow the detrimental guilt and internal remorse to drive us through debilitating cycles of successes and failures that leave us empty, unhappy and…ultimately unsuccessful!

As you chart your path to career success, and work towards your career goals, do you have a core group?

The Corporate Sister.