1
Your Support Network
Write real names into each ring — gaps show where to build.
1 · Close support
The few you trust completely — a mentor, a close colleague, family. They know your goals.
2 · Active network
People you work with and stay in touch with — your team, your trade, your training group.
3 · Wider contacts
Everyone else you've met — past colleagues, events, online. A bigger reach than you think.
Your entries appear inside each ring on the map.
2
Mentor, Sponsor, Peer
Three kinds of supporter do three different jobs — you need all three.
Mentor
Advises you
Shares experience and guidance. Helps you think things through and learn.
"Here's how I'd approach that."
Sponsor
Advocates for you
Uses their influence to put your name forward for opportunities — often when you're not in the room.
"She's ready for that job."
Peer
Stands with you
Going through the same things alongside you. Day-to-day support, honesty, and solidarity.
"I'm dealing with that too — let's figure it out."
3
Growing Your Network
Networking isn't schmoozing — it's staying connected and being useful to each other.
1 · Reconnect
Message one person you've lost touch with.
No agenda — just "How are you getting on?"
2 · Show up
Go to one event, site visit, or training day.
Aim to speak to two new people.
3 · Be useful
Share a job ad, an article, or an introduction.
Giving first builds the strongest networks.
4 · Ask one thing
Ask one good question about their work.
People remember being listened to.
4
Bouncing Back from a Setback
Resilience isn't never falling — it's recovering.
1
Steady
Things are going fine.
2
Setback
Something goes wrong.
3
The dip
The low point — the hardest part.
4
Recovering
You start to climb back.
5
Stronger
Back on track — often stronger.
What helps you climb back
Name it
Setbacks are normal, not proof you don't belong.
Reach out
Talk to your close-support ring — don't dip alone.
One small step
Do one manageable thing to get moving again.
Take the lesson
Ask what you'd do differently, then let the rest go.
5
Protecting Your Energy
Resilience runs on energy. Protecting it isn't soft — it's how you keep going.
What drains you
- Always being "on", with no breaks
- Carrying problems home every night
- Proving yourself, alone, all the time
- No time to recover between pushes
What restores you
- Real breaks — and time fully off
- Movement, sleep, and decent food
- People who get it, on and off site
- Small wins, noticed and counted
The idea: you can't pour from an empty tank. Protect one thing from the "restores" list each week — that's a resilience habit.
★
My Support & Resilience Plan
One person to reach out to. One resilience habit to start.
This plan is private and not saved online. Use "Save as PDF" to keep your copy. Refreshing the page will clear your answers.
1 · A Mentor to Ask
One person I could ask to mentor me — and how I'll approach them:
2 · A Network Step
One person I'll reconnect with or reach out to this month:
3 · A Resilience Habit
One thing I'll do to protect my energy or recover from setbacks:
One of each is plenty. You don't need a big network or a perfect plan — one real connection and one habit you keep will carry you a long way.
Save your support & resilience plan
Nothing you've entered is stored online. Save as PDF to keep your copy.