In this motivational talk, Raphael Djine emphasizes that every leader must deliberately build an inner circle of people who share and support their vision. He argues that surrounding oneself with like‑minded individuals fuels encouragement, sustains momentum, and protects the leader’s purpose. Djine cites John C. Maxwell as a model of vision‑driven leadership, and he uses the biblical story of Mary and Elizabeth to illustrate how proximity to others carrying the same “gift” amplifies growth. He warns that lacking a vision‑aligned circle can leave a leader behind, and he offers concrete steps—such as joining industry conferences, retreats, and networking with peers in the same field—to cultivate and maintain that supportive network. The overall message is a call to actively seek, nurture, and protect relationships that reinforce one’s mission, regardless of the specific industry or vocation.
Chapters
Action. Hey, my friend, I know you are doing so, so well. Hey, we are dealing with how to build an inner circle, how to build an inner circle. Hey, every single person, every single leader must make sure he surrounds himself with people who believe in their vision and share in the vision. I mean, people who will not share your vision, I mean, nothing's wrong with them, But you must make sure you surround yourself with people that share your vision, people that buy into your vision, people that have the same set of beliefs with you, people that believe in what you want to do and they share that vision. I always refer either to Tony and John C. Maxwell One of the things I, you know, I admire John with is his vision of developing so many people. I share that vision. I love it. I dream it. Matter of fact, I walk with the material. Sometimes when I prepare a teaching, I take it back and question as if John was questioning that. What would John Maxwell say about what I'm saying? I share his vision. I mean, you have a lot of other leaders out there, but I'd rather stand with somebody I can share his vision. So as you are building your inner circle, you have to make sure you bring people that share your vision. Whatever you are doing, whatever business you are in, Surround yourself. Bring people in your inner circle that share what you do. If you're in, you know, in what I mean, in hospitality business, make sure you get people that really, really share that. If you're in a self-development business, make sure you surround yourself with people that actually share that vision. They believe in it. Matter of fact, If you are a leader and you don't believe you don't belong to any inner circle where your vision is promoted, what you want to accomplish, people from that inner circle share, you could be left behind. Make sure you surround yourself with people Or you get people that share your vision close to you, so they can nourish that vision. They can encourage you when you be dragging. When challenge come, these people will energize you. They will boost you to press on because they carry the same thing that you are carrying. One of my great, great, great passage in the Bible is When the angel— when the angel appeared, when Mary was pregnant, and the angel appeared to Mary, and the angel explained to Mary that Mary was going to have a child and all that, and Mary asked the angel, How could this be? Guess what was the answer? The angel said, Elizabeth also is pregnant. Go see Elizabeth. Elizabeth was carrying what Mary was carrying, unusual baby. And the Bible says when Mary got close to Elizabeth, the baby leaped in the womb. womb of Elizabeth. Connection. Sometimes you have to get close to people that are carrying what you are carrying. Some people, they don't kill your baby because they hate you, because they hate the baby. It's just they don't know what you are carrying. Stay with people that share your vision. If you are in church planting business, you are in ministry, surround yourself with others that that are passionate about that. If you are a soccer player, surround yourself with others that also share that vision. If you are in whatever industry you are in, that's why it's so important to go to conference. That's why it's so important to go on retreat with others in your industry. Surround yourself with people that share your vision. Are you surrounding yourself, are you close to people that are sharing your vision? Or are you bringing people close to you that are carrying the same vision like yours? Make sure you do that.
